Michelle Saaiman never imagined that a simple kiss could lead to such devastating consequences for her 16-month-old son, Juwan. What initially seemed like a minor eye infection turned out to be much more serious and tragic. Michelle was shocked when doctors informed her that her son had contracted the herpes simplex virus (HSV), likely from a kiss given by someone with an active virus on their mouth.
The Shocking Diagnosis
At first, Michelle thought her son had caught a common eye infection. However, doctors revealed the truth: Juwan had contracted HSV, and it had attacked his eye’s cornea. “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 recalled.
Sadly, the virus caused irreparable damage to Juwan’s eye. The herpes virus attacked the natural lubrication in the eye, causing it to dry out and leading to the loss of vision. “By that time, the herpes just caused so much damage that he essentially lost all feeling in the eye. He could not see anything,” Michelle shared. “It meant the brain did not recognize the eye anymore and stopped sending signals to the eye. The gel later protecting the eye evaporated, and the eye dried out.”
Struggling for a Solution
The family sought medical treatment in Cape Town, where Juwan underwent amnion graft surgery in hopes of saving his cornea. In April, they plan another surgery that will involve transferring nerves from his leg to his eye, which they hope will create an opportunity for a cornea transplant the following year.
Despite the severe pain Juwan endured, his mother praised his strength. “Juwan is such a trooper, he’s really just always had a smile on his face. But he was in severe pain. It is not fair for such a tiny human to go through all that,” she said.
Raising Awareness and Raising Funds
At first, Michelle and her husband were angry at whoever had kissed their son, unknowingly spreading the virus. However, they later realized that the person did not intend to cause harm. Now, their focus has shifted to raising awareness about the dangers of the virus, especially how something as innocent as a kiss can lead to such a serious condition.
“A fever blister is supposed to be on your lips or in your mouth,” Michelle explained. “I’ve never in my life heard of a fever blister growing on someone’s cornea.”
The family has started a fundraiser to help with the significant medical expenses, which include frequent trips from Namibia to South Africa for treatment. “It’s been a long, hard road, and we’re doing everything we can to save our son’s eye,” Michelle wrote on Facebook, sharing her story in the hope of helping others avoid a similar fate.
A Mother’s Love and Hope for the Future
Despite the heartbreaking circumstances, Michelle remains hopeful for her son’s future. She continues to fight for his recovery and urges others to be aware of the dangers of the herpes virus and the unexpected consequences it can have.
“We truly hope things would turn for the best for this young boy,” Michelle said, holding onto the hope that Juwan’s future is brighter.
Please share this article with your family and friends on Facebook to help raise awareness about the dangers of HSV and its impact on young children.
