Sitha is a 49-year-old coconut cake seller. Sitha is married and has one son and one daughter, both are students. Sitha enjoys watching funny videos on her phone.
Two years ago, Sitha developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her itchiness and tearing. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is exposed to excessive sun damage and the cells grow abnormally over the pupil. Sitha has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside.
When Sitha learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. Sitha needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. CSC is helping Sitha raise $225 to cover this procedures, medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days.
Sitha says, “I hope after surgery my eye stops tearing and burning so I can do more and make my coconut cakes well.”