Srey Mom is a 52-year-old food seller. She’s married with two sons, two daughters, and four grandchildren. Srey Mom lives with her husband who is in the military. Before it closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Srey Mom sold food outside of a local factory. Nowadays, she stays at home and when she has free time she enjoys watching movies on TV with her kids.
Five years ago, Srey Mom developed a pterygium in her right eye causing her irritation, burning, tearing, and discomfort with her appearance. 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.
When Srey Mom learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled there seeking treatment. On October 18th, Srey Mom will undergo 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 her procedure is $216 which covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days.
Srey Mom shared, “I hope after surgery my eye irritation stops and my appearance improves. Then I will find another job to earn more money.”