Yon is a 66-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has one son, but unfortunately he passed away. Yon and her husband work on a rice farm and plant vegetables surrounding their house. She likes to listen to the news on the radio and go to the pagoda to join in Buddhist ceremonies.
About nine years ago, Yon developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her irritation and tearing that prevented her from working in the rice field. 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 Yon learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for more than four hours seeking treatment. Yon 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 May 11th.
“I hope that my wife’s eye irritation will go away after surgery so she will be able to better take care of herself and travel anywhere easily,” Yon’s husband said.
