Michelle is raising awareness about the serious risks of spreading the herpes virus and the fact that a seemingly harmless gesture like a kiss can cause irreversible damage.

"A cold sore is supposed to be on the lips or in the mouth," she said. "I've never heard of a cold sore growing on someone's cornea."

She wrote a lengthy Facebook post about the incident, which has since gone viral. Fundraising has also been launched to help cover the astronomical costs of Juwan's treatment, which include flights to South Africa and expensive medication.

If you feel compelled to help, Michelle says every contribution makes a difference. "It's been a long and difficult road, and we're doing everything we can to save our son's eye."

Awareness post. I wondered if I should share the devastating experience we've had over the past seven months. Usually, I…

Awareness post. I've been contemplating whether to share our devastating experience over the past 7 months. I usually…

Posted by Michelle Saaiman on Monday, February 17, 2025
Many people know that you should keep your distance from young children when you are sick, which has become even more obvious during the pandemic years.

However, it's easy to forget, and sometimes people simply want to show love to little ones or give them a light kiss. But in this case, things took a terrible turn, and it's important to remind others of the risks.

This story reminds us that we must always be careful when dealing with the spread of viruses, especially around vulnerable children. We're keeping our fingers crossed for the brave and wonderful Juwan – he and his family need all the strength we can send them!