The mother faced her worst parenting fear while observing a strange eye symptom in her toddler before everything took a tragic path.
When Juwan reached 16 months old his mother Michelle Saaiman from Namibia noticed only a light eye problem in him.
Elements from a trivial infection led his parents toward seeking professional medical attention and treatment.
The doctor ordered medications with antibiotic drops and they trusted his medical directions that the condition would disappear in a time frame of several days.
The situation for Juwan took a turn for the worse because his mother observed worrying developments.
The left eye of Juwan became red and developed swelling together with a strange inner growth which made Michelle feel great alarm.
The alarming thing for Michelle was not only the physical symptoms but his un reak when Juwan tried to touch his eye.
Despite pressing his finger on the eyeball directly Juwan did not exhibit any pain reaction.
His parents understood immediately that something was dreadfully incorrect and they hurried up to respond.
Doctors failed to discover an appropriate solution during the advancing stages of infection where Juwan experienced worsening eyesight.
The medical team both strengthened his medication and watched his health but the worsening condition remained.
His mother rushed him to a medical professional in Cape Town South Africa in search of an answer to his illness.
Through comprehensive testing physicians revealed the discovery that Juwan suffered from the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1).
HSV-1 virus spread from the cold sore infection had attacked his eye resulting in permanent damage against his cornea.
Michelle could not accept the fact that such an occurrence would affect her innocent son.
Doctors indicated HSV-1 exists commonly throughout the population because it affects a wide number of people.
People who remain symptomless from the virus unintendingly transmit it each time they come into contact with others.
HSV-1 normally causes cold sores to appear in adult populations yet these sores heal without assistance or treatment.
At the stage of immune system development in children below six years old the virus presents mortal risks.
The transmission of the virus to Juwan probably occurred through a kiss with someone who currently presented HSV-1 cold sore symptoms.
The infection quickly became aggressive after entering his body as it attacked his eye and developed a severe blister that caused him pain.
A 4mm hole formed in his cornea because of the blister which made his eye susceptible to harmful secondary infections.
The medical team worked hard to reverse the damage yet the devastation from the infection made Juwan lose complete vision in his left eye.
Further brain degeneration occurred because the brain stopped receiving sensory signals from his eye.
The medical team took this step to shield the eye because no other alternatives remained to preserve the organ.
The experimental surgical procedure will decide his future since his parents continue their preparations for it.
The surgical team intends to move leg nerves to his eye socket as an attempt to establish brain signal transmission.
A successful operation would allow Juwan to become eligible for a cornea transplant that might produce partial visual restoration.
Presently Michelle whisks a vital warning to parents through the global population.
She strongly advised that nobody should place even a single kiss on his newborn face. The tiny virus resulted in massive emotional harm to his life despite its apparent smallness. It’s just not worth it.”
Feature Image Credit: (Michelle Saaiman)