When Michelle Saaiman noticed something unusual about her toddler’s eye, she never imagined the condition was so severe that the eye melts away.
The devastated mother said she initially believed her then 16-month-old child contracted an eye infection, but sadly, the reality was much worse than that. Doctors informed her that the toddler had in fact contracted herpes simplex virus (HSV), likely from a kiss he received from someone with an active virus on their mouth.
“The doctor was telling me there’s a fever blister growing in my child’s cornea. I was literally looking at the doctor wondering whether it’s April 1, because I thought it was an April Fool’s joke,” Michelle told Metro.
Unfortunately, the herpes attacked the eye’s cornea, leading little Juwan to lose his sight on that eye.
The loss of natural lubrication led to devastating consequences.
“By that time, the herpes had caused so much damage that he completely lost sensation in his eye. He couldn’t see anything,” Michelle explained. “His brain stopped recognizing the eye and no longer sent signals to it. The protective gel that kept it moist eventually evaporated, leaving the eye completely dried out.”
In an effort to save his cornea, the family took Juwan to Cape Town, where he underwent amnion graft surgery. Now, they are planning another procedure in April—one that involves transferring nerves from his leg to his eye, hoping it will pave the way for a cornea transplant next year.
“Juwan is such a fighter. He’s always had a smile on his face despite the pain,” his mother shared. “No child should have to endure something like this.”
At first, Michelle and her husband were furious at whoever had unknowingly passed the herpes virus to their son through a kiss. However, they soon realized it wasn’t done with any harmful intent.
While the virus has now been somewhat contained, the damage is irreversible—Juwan will never regain sight in that eye.
Determined to prevent others from experiencing the same heartbreak, his parents share his story to raise awareness about how something as seemingly harmless as a kiss can have devastating consequences.
“A fever blister is supposed to be on your lips or in your mouth,” Michelle said. “I never imagined it could grow on someone’s cornea.”
Michelle shared a heartfelt post on Facebook, detailing their journey and the challenges they’ve faced. To help cover the overwhelming medical expenses—including frequent trips from Namibia to South Africa—the family also set up a fundraiser.
“It’s been a long, difficult road, and we’re doing everything in our power to save our son’s eye,” Michelle wrote.
We sincerely hope that brighter days lie ahead for this brave young boy.
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