A Heartbreaking Story of a Child’s Battle with Herpes from a Kiss

Most parents have witnessed their children experience common ailments like eye infections. However, for Michelle Saaiman, a mother from Namibia, the discovery of her 16-month-old son Juwan’s eye condition became a nightmare that she never could have anticipated.

Initially, Michelle thought her son had a simple eye infection. However, when antibiotic drops didn’t work and his symptoms worsened, she sought further medical help. What followed was an unimaginable diagnosis. Juwan had contracted herpes simplex virus (HSV) in his cornea, likely passed to him by someone with an active cold sore who had kissed him near his eye.

Michelle recalls the shock of hearing the doctor’s diagnosis: “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.”

Unfortunately, herpes caused severe damage to Juwan’s cornea, and as the virus ravaged the eye, he lost his ability to see from it. The infection led to a terrifying complication where the natural lubrication of his eye was destroyed, causing it to “melt away.” The result was a 4mm hole in his cornea, and doctors feared Juwan could lose his eye entirely.

At this point, the herpes damage had rendered Juwan’s eye unresponsive to any stimuli, leaving it dry and without sensation. His brain stopped sending signals to the eye, and the natural gel that normally protected it evaporated.

In hopes of saving his eye, Michelle and her husband decided to take Juwan to Cape Town for specialized treatment. He underwent an amnion graft surgery, where his eyelids were stitched together temporarily. A follow-up surgery is scheduled for April, where nerves will be transferred from Juwan’s leg to his eye. If successful, this procedure will prepare him for a potential cornea transplant next year.

Despite enduring so much pain and hardship, Michelle is amazed at her son’s strength. “Juwan is such a trooper, he’s really just always had a smile on his face. But he was in severe pain,” Michelle shared. “It is not fair for such a tiny human to go through all that.”

Throughout the entire ordeal, Michelle and her husband wrestled with feelings of anger, especially toward the person who unknowingly passed the herpes virus to their son. “Both my husband and myself, we were just angry with whoever was so selfish to kiss my child in his face with an active fever blister,” she said. “Kisses come from a place of love. So whoever gave him this, I’m sure it wasn’t done intentionally or with any idea to do him harm.”

In addition to the emotional turmoil, Juwan’s parents have faced numerous challenges navigating medical procedures, seeking expert opinions, and worrying about the spread of the virus to his brain or other eye. Although the herpes infection has been somewhat contained, the damage to his eye is irreversible, and the family continues their fight to preserve his vision.

Michelle is now using her platform to raise awareness about the risks of transmitting herpes through something as seemingly innocent as a kiss. “A fever blister is supposed to be on your lips or in your mouth,” she explained. “I’ve never in my life heard of a fever blister growing on someone’s cornea.”

Michelle shared her heartbreaking story on Facebook, where it quickly went viral. She also set up a fundraiser to cover the substantial costs of Juwan’s treatment, including flights to South Africa and high-priced medications.

“It’s been a long, hard road, and we’re doing everything we can to save our son’s eye,” Michelle wrote, expressing her gratitude for the support they’ve received.

In light of this devastating experience, Michelle is urging others to be mindful of the risks associated with spreading the herpes virus. During the pandemic, many were reminded to keep a safe distance from others when they were sick, but it’s easy to forget the dangers of casual affection. Michelle’s story serves as an important reminder that seemingly harmless acts, like giving a kiss, can sometimes have unforeseen and devastating consequences.

As Michelle continues to advocate for her son, she hopes that others will take her message to heart, ensuring that this painful chapter in their lives can help protect other families from facing the same heartbreaking situation.