Muon is a 74-year-old retired rice farmer from Cambodia. He and his wife have four sons, two daughters, and ten grandchildren. Neither he nor his wife work anymore, but they spend most of their time visiting their children’s families and taking care of their grandchildren. In his free time he likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and go to the pagoda with his wife.
Ten years ago, Muon developed a pterygium in his left eye, causing him blurry vision, severe irritation and 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. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside.
When Muon learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, he traveled for two hours by taxi seeking treatment. Muon 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 August 5th.
Muon shared, “I have stopped working because of my eye problems, but I hope that when my vision is better I can see my grandchildren with no problem and take them on trips.”