In, who is 73 years old, is a widowed, retired rice farmer, living alone in Kampong Cham province in Cambodia. Her two sons live nearby, and help support In with their income from working in a rice mill. Her daughter also lives nearby, and helps In with household chores. In’s greatest joy is her four grandchildren, for whom she loves to cook.
Around ten years ago, In developed a pterygium in her right eye, causing her constant itchiness, redness, and watery eyes. Pterygiums are non-cancerous growths of the conjunctiva, a mucous layer that lubricates the eye. The growths occur when the conjunctiva is damaged due to excessive exposure to the sun, causing cells to grow abnormally over the pupil, resulting in impaired vision.
When In learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. In needs a surgical procedure to remove the abnormal conjunctiva from the surface of the cornea, which will be replaced with a conjunctival graft, to prevent a recurrence. The procedure, which will cost $225, is scheduled for July 3rd at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. Children’s Surgical Centre is requesting your help to cover the costs of In’s medications, supplies, and inpatient medical care for two days.
In shared: “I want to be able to leave my house and not feel scared of the sun, or not seeing clearly on my way to the pagoda to pray.”