Nicole Sifrit and husband Shane from Iowa, are warning other parents about the life threatening virus that consequently took the life of their precious baby daughter.
Baby Mariana who passed away due to Viral Meningitis.
Only a week old, little Mariana stopped eating and also responding when her parents tried to wake her.
“It immediately went downhill from there. Within two hours she had quit breathing and all of her organs just started to fail,” Mariana’s father, Shane told WHO TV.
Mariana was diagnosed with viral meningitis caused by the herpes virus, on July 7. The virus is spread through close contact. While both Nicole and Shane tested negative for the virus, it meant that the vulnerable newborn rather likely contracted it from a visitor.
Viral meningitis can be transmitted as easily as via someone carrying as much as a cold sore virus.
When Mariana was first showing signs of the virus, her parents Nicole and Shane, left their own wedding early in order to take their daughter to seek medical attention. Due to their baby daughter’s condition being so serious, she was flown to Iowa City to the University of Iowa Hospital, where she was consequently placed on life support.
“I always thought this stuff happens and it’s a shame and never thought it would happen to me,” Shane told WHO TV. “I was not prepared at all.”
Mariana wasn’t expected to survive 24 hours past her diagnosis, Nicole said on Facebook. She’s on medicine to control seizures, kidney dialysis and the vessels around her heart were leaking oxygen, one post said.
Update on Princess Mariana: first of all from the bottom of my heart I can't thank everyone enough for the outpouring…
Posted by Nicole Sifrit on Sunday, 16 July 2017
On Monday, Nicole posted a heartbreaking update.
“My heart is crushed, my baby is declining fast,” Nicole wrote. “She has no brain activity and her lungs and heart are failing along with her kidneys and liver. They are running out of options for her.”
My heart is crushed, my baby is declining fast! She has no brain activity and her lungs and heart are failing along with her kidneys and liver. They are running out of options for her. ;(
Posted by Nicole Sifrit on Monday, 17 July 2017
Tragically, only one morning later, Nicole reported that her daughter Mariana had passed away as a result of the virus.
“Our princess Mariana Reese Sifrit gained her angel wings at 8:41 am this morning in her daddy’s arms and her mommy right beside her,” Nicole wrote.
♡ Our princess Mariana Reese Sifrit gained her angel wings at 8:41 am this morning in her daddy's arms and her mommy…
Posted by Nicole Sifrit on Tuesday, 18 July 2017
Nicole is pleading to other parents of newborns to keep visitors away. Most of all, in order to avoid the same unfortunate fate as her daughter, Mariana. She hopes that because of Mariana’s story, it will educate parents to become aware of the dangers and as a result, save the lives of numerous others.
“Don’t let anyone kiss your baby,” she said.
Consquently a GoFundMe page was set up for the family to help with medical expenses.
