Noun is a 64-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She and her husband have four children and thirteen grandchildren. Her husband is a motorcycle taxi driver. She works in her field, and helps take care of her grandchildren. In her free time she enjoys going with her family to the local pagoda to give food to the monks and pray with them.
Ten years ago, Noun developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her irritation, tearing, and eye pain. Her symptoms have worsened in the past year. 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. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside.
When Noun learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three-and-a-half hours by taxi seeking treatment. Noun 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 July 6th.
Noun shared, “I hope after surgery I feel no more irritation and do not feel like I have to scratch my eyes. I would feel so happy to return to my work and see everything clearly when I am with my family.”