Lang is a 57-year-old rice farmer from Prey Veng province in Cambodia. She is married and has one son, one daughter, and three grandchildren. She and her husband live with their daughter, who is still in school. Lang’s husband works on the farm with her and he also drives a moto-taxi to make ends meet.
Five years ago, Lang developed a pterygium in her left eye. As a result, she now experiences itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Her progressive vision loss makes it difficult for her to watch her favorite shows and she is embarrassed by the way her eye looks. 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 sunlight, which causes cells to grow abnormally over the pupil.
When Lang learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for four and a half hours, hoping to receive treatment. On May 4th, Lang will undergo a surgical procedure at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. During the procedure, the abnormal conjunctiva will be removed from the surface of the cornea and replaced with a conjunctival graft, which should prevent a recurrence. The total cost of her procedure is $225, which will cover the medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. Lang needs your help to fund her procedure.
Lang said: “I hope after surgery the irritation and tearing in my eye will stop, and I can go back to growing rice and doing housework.”