\u201cThe doctor said there\u2019s a fever blister growing in my child\u2019s cornea,\u201d Michelle told Metro<\/em>. \u201cI thought it was an April Fool\u2019s joke.\u201d<\/p>\n The virus caused severe damage, leaving Juwan blind in one eye<\/strong> as his cornea deteriorated. Doctors feared he might lose the eye completely. To save it, the family flew to Cape Town, where Juwan underwent amnion graft surgery<\/strong> and had his eyelids stitched shut temporarily. Another nerve transfer surgery is planned in hopes of enabling a future cornea transplant<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Despite the pain, Michelle says her son remains brave. \u201cHe\u2019s always smiling, even after everything he\u2019s endured,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The family initially felt anger toward the person who unknowingly passed on the virus but now focus on raising awareness. \u201cKisses come from love, but people must know \u2014 a cold sore can cause lifelong harm<\/strong>,\u201d Michelle warns.<\/p>\n Michelle\u2019s Facebook post about Juwan\u2019s ordeal has gone viral, along with a fundraiser<\/strong> to cover medical costs. She hopes their story reminds others to avoid kissing babies or toddlers when you have a fever blister<\/strong>, no matter how harmless it may seem.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease be careful,\u201d Michelle urges. \u201cWe\u2019re doing everything we can to save our son\u2019s eye.\u201d<\/p>\n Mom\u2019s Warning After Son Contracts Herpes from a Kiss When Namibian mom Michelle Saaiman noticed her 16-month-old son Juwan\u2019s eye was infected, she thought it was a typical eye infection. But after antibiotic drops failed, a specialist delivered shocking news \u2014 Juwan had contracted herpes simplex virus (HSV), likely from a kiss by someone with…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-main.newsner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/03\/14111742\/melted.jpg\")
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