Baby Dies From Illness Contracted Through a Kiss

Iowa newlyweds are mourning the loss of their 3-week-old daughter.

Nicole and Shane Sifrit welcomed daughter Mariana on July 1 and just a week later — two hours after the couple's wedding — they noticed Mariana wasn't eating and wouldn't wake up when they prompted her.

"Within two hours, she had quit breathing, and all her organs just started to fail," Nicole told a CNN affiliate.

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The couple left their wedding early to take her to a children's hospital in Des Moines, where they discovered she'd contracted meningitis HSV-1, caused by the herpes virus.

Herpes meningitis can be caused by fungi, bacteria or other germs and is spread through sexual contact or from a woman to her baby during childbirth. Both Nicole and Shane both tested negative for the virus, so it's likely it came from others who visited Mariana.

"They touch her, and then she touches her mouth with her hand," Nicole explained.

Dr. Tanya Altmann, a pediatrician at Calabasas Pediatrics, said it's common to catch the virus, but rarely does it develop into meningitis.

"The first two months after a child is born are very critical, as a virus can rapidly spread and cause serious illness in newborns," she said.

After Mariana was airlifted to the children's hospital, her condition continued to deteriorate.

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On July 18, Nicole announced on her Facebook page that Mariana had sadly passed away.

"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. She is now no longer suffering and is with the Lord. Thank you to everyone who has followed her journey and supported us through this. 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," Nicole wrote.