San is a 58-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. Sam has one daughter, five sons, and five grandchildren. Now he lives with his wife and she is also a farmer. He enjoys working on the farm and watching the news on TV in his free time.
Seven years ago, San developed a pterygium in his right eye, causing him irritation, burning, vision loss, and photophobia. 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 San learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, he traveled for four hours seeking treatment. San 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 November 9th.
San said, “I hope that the doctor can remove the pterygium from my eye successfully so I can look good, feel comfortable, and continue my farming work.”