This Is Why You Should Never Ever Kiss A Newborn

#1

It's something many parents of newborns want to scream over and over again: Please do NOT kiss my baby. But so often, we're made to feel like we're overreacting or being rude to people who adore our babies and have only the best intentions. That's why heartbroken mom Nicole Sifrit is begging people to do more to protect their newborns after her 18-day-old daughter, Mariana, passed away from meningitis she likely contracted via a kiss from a well-meaning loved one.

#2

For Shane and Nicole Sifrit, this month was supposed to be brimming with joy, marked by the birth of baby Mariana - their first child together - followed by their wedding celebration just days later.

#3

But on July 7, two hours after the new parents exchanged their vows, their six-day-old infant was rushed to the hospital, having contracted a life-threatening herpes infection through a kiss.

#4

According to a series of Facebook posts by Mariana's mother, Nicole Sifrit, the baby girl was born on July 1 and discharged with a completely clean bill of health, only to be admitted to the NICU and placed on life support six days later.

#5

Her liver was failing. She was bleeding internally. Her blood wouldn't clot. And doctors quickly discovered that little Mariana had contracted viral meningitis from herpes simplex virus type 1, or HSV-1, a strain of the herpes virus likely transmitted by the kiss of an adult with a cold sore.

#6

A week after Mariana's July 1 birth, her jubilant parents married. Within two hours of the ceremony, though, the newlyweds noticed that their newborn was not eating and would not wake up, they told WHO.

#7

"She had quit breathing, and all her organs just started to fail," Nicole Sifrit told WHO. Early symptoms of viral meningitis may include fever, light sensitivity, headache and a stiff neck, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

#8

Her mother told WHO she could not pinpoint exactly how Mariana caught the virus.

"Most adults are infected with HSV-1 and have HSV-1 in their mouths and saliva from time to time, but do not have any symptoms," the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene explains in a statement. "HSV-1 infection can spread when infected saliva touches a mucous membrane or a cut or break in the skin."

#9

Babies younger than 1 month and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop severe illness when diagnosed with viral meningitis, according to the CDC, which advises parents to be particularly careful during the first months of a baby's life.

#10

According to the Johns Hopkins Health Library, herpes meningitis can be caused by bacteria, and it can be transmitted by sexual contact or passed from an infected mother to the baby during childbirth.

In Mariana's case, however, both of her parents tested negative for the virus, raising the possibility that their daughter had caught the life-threatening illness from someone carrying herpes, but not necessarily showing symptoms, who had visited the family in the days after her birth and kissed her.

#11

Nicole announced that Mariana had died in a devastating update on Facebook. “Our princess Mariana Reese Sifrit gained her angels wings at 8:41 a.m. this morning in her daddy’s arms and her mommy right beside her,” the announcement read. Mariana was only 18 days old.

#12

Nicole's friend Rachel tells DailyMail.com that the family, including their older girl, are heartbroken.

‘Her daughter was super excited to have a sister, so she’s very sad it did not work out,’ O’Toole said, adding that her friend is a good mom who always puts her kids first.

‘Her life is her kids,’ she said.

#13

'Don't let just anyone come visit them,' Nicole said earlier. 'Make sure they are constantly washing their hands. Don't let people kiss your baby and make sure they ask before they pick up your baby.'

#14

"Thank you to everyone who has followed her journey and supported us through this," Sifrit wrote in her Facebook post. "In her 18 days of life she made a huge impact on the world and we hope with Mariana's Story we save numerous newborns life. R.I.P. sweet angel."

#15

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the Sifrit family with Mariana's medical and funeral expenses, including a $12,000 fee for the helicopter flight between the two hospitals. As of Tuesday evening, just over $5,800 has been raised.

#16

'They just want to give their little girl a burial and have closure,' Rachel O'Toole said of the bereaved parents.