For many parents, a small eye infection in their child doesn’t seem like a big deal. But for one mother, what looked like a minor problem in her son’s eye quickly turned into a terrifying experience that changed their lives.
Michelle Saaiman, a caring mother from Namibia, noticed something unusual in her 16-month-old son Juwan’s eye in August. She thought it was just a simple infection that a doctor could easily treat with medicine. But when the redness and swelling got worse instead of better, she started to worry deeply.
When doctors ran more tests, the truth shocked her. A specialist told Michelle that her baby had herpes simplex virus (HSV) — not in his mouth, but in his eye. The likely cause was a kiss from someone who had a cold sore. Michelle couldn’t believe it. “The doctor told me there’s a fever blister in my child’s eye,” she said. “I thought it had to be a joke.”
When a Simple Kiss Turned into a Tragedy
The virus spread quickly and badly damaged Juwan’s eye. Within days, his condition got much worse. Michelle said it looked like her son’s eye was “melting away” as the infection grew stronger. The natural moisture that protects the eye disappeared, and a painful hole formed in his cornea. “The herpes caused so much damage that he couldn’t feel anything in that eye anymore,” Michelle said, crying. “He lost his vision completely — his brain stopped responding to that eye, and the tissue began to break down.” Doctors warned that Juwan might lose the entire eye if they didn’t act fast.
A Desperate Fight to Save His Sight
Refusing to give up, Michelle and her husband took Juwan to Cape Town, South Africa, for advanced treatment. Surgeons performed an amnion graft — a special operation using donated tissue to help the damaged cornea heal. To protect the eye, doctors even stitched his eyelids partly closed to stop it from getting worse. Their journey isn’t over, though. In April, Juwan is scheduled for another big surgery, where doctors will move nerves from his leg to his eye.
If it works, he may be able to get a cornea transplant next year — giving him a small chance to see again. Despite everything, Michelle says her son has been incredibly brave. “Juwan is such a fighter,” she said. “Even when he was in terrible pain, he still smiled. It’s just heartbreaking for a little child to go through this.”
A Parent’s Anger and Heartbreak
At first, Michelle and her husband were furious at the person who had kissed their baby and unknowingly passed on the virus. “We were both so angry,” Michelle said. “We kept thinking, how could someone be so careless and kiss a baby with a cold sore?” But she also knows it wasn’t done on purpose. “Kisses are meant as a sign of love,” she said softly. “I’m sure the person didn’t mean any harm — but it still destroyed so much.”
The couple has been working with doctors around the world, including specialists in New York, to find the best treatments and medicines for Juwan. Every day brought new fears — that the virus could spread to his other eye, or even to his brain. Although doctors stopped the infection from spreading, the damage to his vision can never be fully repaired.
Raising Awareness and Sharing a Life-Saving Message
Wanting to turn her family’s pain into something meaningful, Michelle began speaking out about the dangers of herpes — especially for babies and young children. She shared her story in a Facebook post that quickly went viral, reaching thousands of people worldwide. “A fever blister belongs on your lips, not in a child’s eye,” she wrote. “I never knew something like this could happen until it happened to my son.”
Michelle also started a fundraising campaign to help pay for Juwan’s expensive medical care — including flights, hospital stays, surgeries, and special medicines. Every donation, she says, gives them hope. “It’s been a long and painful journey,” Michelle said. “We’re doing everything possible to save our son’s eye.”
A Powerful Lesson for Everyone
This heartbreaking experience reminds everyone how something as simple as a kiss can cause serious harm. Many people don’t realize that the herpes simplex virus — the same virus that causes cold sores — can be dangerous, even life-threatening, for babies if it spreads to their eyes or brain. During the pandemic, people were more careful about close contact, but it’s easy to forget those habits. Family members often show love by kissing a baby’s cheek or forehead, not knowing that even a small cold sore can pass on a harmful virus.
By sharing her son’s story, Michelle has helped many parents become more careful and aware. As little Juwan continues to bravely fight for recovery, people around the world are hoping for his full healing. His story serves as a strong reminder that even the most loving act — a kiss — can have unexpected and tragic consequences. Michelle’s courage might just save another child’s sight.
A Parent’s Anger and Heartbreak
When Michelle and her husband first learned about their son’s condition, they were filled with anger toward the person who had kissed their baby and unknowingly passed on the virus. “We were both really angry,” Michelle said. “We kept asking ourselves, how could someone be so careless to kiss a baby while having a cold sore?” However, Michelle also realized that the person probably didn’t mean to hurt anyone. “Kisses come from love,” she said quietly. “I know it wasn’t on purpose — but that doesn’t make it any less painful.”
For months, the couple worked with medical experts around the world, including doctors in New York, to find the best treatment for Juwan. Every day was filled with fear — that the virus might spread to his other eye or even to his brain. Although doctors managed to stop the infection from spreading, the damage it caused cannot be undone.
Raising Awareness and Spreading a Life-Saving Message
Wanting to make something good out of their pain, Michelle started spreading awareness about how herpes can be dangerous for babies and toddlers. She shared her story in a Facebook post that went viral, reaching thousands of people. “A fever blister belongs on your lips, not in a child’s eye,” she wrote. “I never knew something like this could happen until it happened to my son.”
Michelle also started a fundraising campaign to help pay for Juwan’s medical needs, including travel, hospital stays, surgeries, and special medicines. Every donation, she says, gives them hope. “It’s been a tough journey,” she shared. “We’re doing everything we can to save our son’s eye.”
A Powerful Reminder
This heartbreaking story reminds everyone that even a loving kiss can sometimes lead to tragedy. Many people don’t realize that the herpes virus — the same one that causes cold sores — can be very dangerous, even deadly, for babies if it spreads to their eyes or brain. During the pandemic, people became more careful about contact, but it’s easy to forget those habits in daily life. Parents, relatives, and friends often kiss babies to show love, not knowing that even a small cold sore can pass on a serious infection.
Michelle’s bravery in sharing her son’s journey has helped many parents become more careful. As Juwan continues to fight with incredible strength, people around the world are hoping for his full recovery. His story is a reminder that sometimes, even the most loving act can have painful consequences — and one mother’s warning could save another child’s sight.