Mum's heartbreaking warning after newborn dies from HSV-1 virus: 'Stop kissing babies!'
By Heidi Krause|
A US mum has issued a heartbreaking warning after her baby girl died from a common virus when she was 12 days old.
Presley Trejos, from Texas, lost her newborn Emerson Faye after she was kissed by someone who carried the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1) virus, commonly known as the cold sore virus or the "kiss of death" for infants.
While the tragedy occurred three years ago, Trejos decided to re-share the story "to bring awareness to the terrible illness that took our baby away from us".
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"For adults it's not a big deal," she wrote in an emotional Facebook post, alongside heartbreaking photos of her baby girl and family in hospital.
"But for infants with little to no immune system, it's fatal. When someone who has the virus in their system and kisses an infant it can spread rapidly.
"You can have the virus and not even know you have it. You don't have to have an active cold sore to pass it on. You shed the virus in your saliva and when it gets on the baby it goes through the body so fast. It happens so fast that you don't even know the baby is sick."
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According to the devastated mum, in Emerson's case, her liver was already "completely gone" when they arrived at hospital.
"Her kidneys were right behind. Everything was failing. She was having multiple seizures until she was brain dead. Her heart stopped beating and the only thing that kept her alive were machines," Trejos continued.
"My daughter, my own flesh and blood who I created out of love, was on life support and I had to be the one to pull the plug on her life. A mother should never ever have to bury their child.
"The virus took her at just 12-days-old and we watched her die a very slow death. And now I have a lifetime without her."
Trejos then pleaded with people to take care around newborn babies and to spread the word about the virus.
"STOP KISSING BABIES THAT ARE NOT YOURS!!!!! WASH YOUR HANDS WHEN YOU ARE AROUND NEWBORNS!!!!," she urged.
"Our perfectly healthy, happy, BEAUTIFUL angel is no longer here with us because of a terrible virus that people need to be more aware of."
"These babies don't deserve it. Emerson didn't deserve it. I, as a mother and wife, didn't deserve it. My husband and kids don't deserve it. And now we will live a whole lifetime of "what if's". I will never see her go to kindergarten, graduate high school or college, my husband will never walk her down the aisle on her wedding day, I will never see her be a better mother than me. It's not fair!! We should have never had to go through this. "
She concluded the post by paying tribute to her baby girl.
"I love you Emerson Faye. I will carry on your name and your love till eternity. I will never forget you. I will never stop loving you. Fly high beautiful baby."
Thousands of people flooded the mum's post with love and support, thanking her for bravely sharing her story.
"I'm so sorry for your loss. This is exactly what happened to my daughter but they figured it out before it got too bad. I cannot even imagine what you all went through and still go through. Thank you for bringing attention to this and sharing your sweet daughter," said one.
There are two types of the virus, HSV 1 and HSV 2 and both types can cause cold sores on the mouth.
According to Australian group Tiny Hearts Education, "the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1), can cause severe illness and even death in babies under six-months-old because their immune systems have not fully developed."
