Horn is a 54-year-old loving grandmother. She is married with two sons, three daughters, and 11 grandchildren. She lives with her husband who is a construction worker in Kratie province - a far eastern province along the banks of the Mekong River. When not caring or cooking for her family, she enjoys watching the news and movies on TV.
Two years ago, Horn developed a pterygium in her left eye, causing her tearing, itching, and blurry vision. Doing laundry, cleaning, or cooking has become difficult for her. 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.
When Horn learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for seven and a half hours seeking treatment. Horn 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 $225. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care for two days. The procedure is scheduled for October 17th.
Horn shared: “I hope after surgery my eye will feel comfortable and stop irritation so I can do housework well.”
