In Battambang, Cambodia, three generations of women run a family car wash. It’s a life built on grit, love, and long days, but for 20 years, there was a missing piece at the center of their home.

At 74, Phen Mao lived in a blur. After she lost her sight, her daughter, Lorb, carried the added weight of the business and her mother’s safety. “Almost 20 years ago, she lost her sight,” Lorb said. “I worried about her constantly.”

Last month, that 20-year wait ended in just 15 minutes.

Because of supporters like you, Phen received a sight-restoring cataract surgery. When her bandages came off, she didn’t just see the world; she rejoined it. She returned home smiling, telling her daughter she felt as though she were young again.

Today, the family is back to working side-by-side. Phen is once again cooking family meals, supporting household chores, and, best of all, back in the shop, washing cars alongside her daughter and granddaughter. The “new world” she sees is her family, finally whole.

“I will not worry about her as before at all,” Lorb said. Phen added, “After surgery, it is way better. I can see everything around me, and that makes me feel good.”

This Healthy Vision Month, Phen’s story is a reminder: restoring sight helps people keep living the lives they’ve built.

Thank you for your support in helping to restore the sight and independence of people like Lorb.

In service,

Julie Nestingen
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Seva Foundation

P.S. This Healthy Vision Month, we encourage our entire Seva family to get their own eyes screened! Use this as an opportunity to ensure you can keep showing up for the ones you love, just as Phen is doing for her family today.