Sok Nim is a mother of three from Cambodia, with two sons and one daughter. She is in the military and her husband is an electrician. All of their children are in school. Sok Nim shared that her favorite part of the day is when she can go on walks with her children.
Being out on her own has become more difficult because Sok Nim developed a pterygium in both eyes, causing her itchiness, tearing, and sometime pain. 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 Sok Nim learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for six hours with her sister seeking treatment. Sok Nim 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 her procedure is $216. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for December 16th.
Sok Nim said, “I hope after surgery my eye is well so I can be free of worry.”