One mother has issued a warning to parents after her two-year-old son lost his sight following a herpes infection.
Doctors said the child contracted the virus after an acquaintance kissed his eye. The mother said the incident led to permanent damage and ongoing medical treatment for her son.
Children and babies are more susceptible to illness while their bodies develop, but some risks are not widely understood. This lack of awareness can lead to serious and frightening outcomes for families.
The mother said she never expected a simple kiss to result in such severe consequences. She decided to share her experience publicly to alert others.
The case involves 36-year-old Namibian mother Michelle Saaiman and her son Juwan. Saaiman shared her story on Facebook alongside a warning to other parents.
She said the incident had a profound impact on her family. The story was later reported by Metro.
Saaiman said she first noticed what appeared to be an eye infection when Juwan was one year and four months old. Their general practitioner prescribed antibiotic eye drops to treat the condition.
At first, the symptoms did not seem unusual. The situation changed rapidly in the days that followed.
She said the condition worsened when she noticed something that appeared to be growing inside her son’s eyeball. Saaiman also observed that Juwan had no feeling in the affected eye.
She said he was able to put his finger into his eye and scratch without reacting. These symptoms raised serious concern.
Diagnosis, treatment, and long-term impact
Doctors referred Juwan to an ophthalmologist after becoming concerned about the progression of the condition. The specialist diagnosed him with herpes simplex virus in his left eye.
The diagnosis was unexpected and alarming for the family. Saaiman said she had not known the virus could affect the eye in this way.
The virus was eventually put into remission after numerous hospital visits and significant medical costs.
Saaiman said the experience left both her and her husband, Neels, shocked. Doctors warned that the infection could have spread to Juwan’s brain. She said the outcome could have been far worse.
“Due to the damage caused to the eye, he developed a hole (open wound) in his eye, a ‘cornea defect’, and our baby’s defect was 4mm in size,” Saaiman wrote. She described seeing the open wound as deeply traumatic.
“It’s the most traumatic experience to look at your baby, and literally see a 4mm open wound in his eye, which is so clearly visible.”
Juwan still has no sensation in the eye and it remains vulnerable to repeated infections. Doctors have planned three separate surgeries in an effort to save the eye.
The procedures involve harvesting nerves from his leg to prepare for a possible cornea implant. Saaiman said it is still unclear whether the implant will be possible.
Doctors believe Juwan contracted the virus after someone with herpes kissed his eye or the surrounding area. Both parents tested negative for the virus, indicating it was transmitted by someone else.
Saaiman said this realization was especially difficult for the family.
“I usually don’t post such personal ‘situations’, especially relating to my children,” she wrote.
“However, I do feel it necessary to make people understand WHY YOU SHOULD NOT KISS SOMEONE’S BABY.”
She ended the post with a clear message. “The moral of the story – don’t let anyone kiss your baby.”