Chamroeun is a 53-year-old mint and rice farmer from Cambodia. Chamroeun has two sons, eight daughters, and twelve grandchildren - all his children are now married. His wife is also a rice farmer. When he’s not farming, he shared that he enjoys planting vegetables at his home and listening to news on the radio.
Five years ago, Chamroeun developed a pterygium in his right eye, causing him feel irritation, burning, blurry vision, 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. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside.
When Chamroeun learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, he traveled for five and a half hours seeking treatment. Chamroeun needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival graft to prevent recurrence. The total cost of his procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for November 9th.
Chamroeun told us, “I hope that after surgery my eye irritation will stop and I can easily recognize things well. I would like to read books and plant rice and mint without any worry.”
