Sambath is a 72-year-old rice farmer with three sons, three daughters, and 25 grandchildren. Sambath lives with her husband and their eldest daughter, who is also a rice farmer. She likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio and visit the pagoda on holy days.
Two years ago, Sambath developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the eye that occur with excessive sun damage. Thus, Sambath has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside.
When Sambath learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours with her daughter to seek treatment. Sambath needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the cornea surface and replace it with a conjunctival growth and replace it with 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 June 22nd.
Sambath is hopeful for her recovery, “I hope my eye feels comfortable again and the tearing and irritation stops. I want to go outside and not worry about my eye.”