Heartbroken Couple Plead With Parents Not To Allow Strangers Kiss Their Children & Here's Why

An Iowa couple announced this morning the death of their 18-day-old baby daughter, who has succumbed to a herpes infection likely contracted through a kiss.

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.

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.

On Monday, Nicole Sifrit, 33, said her baby's doctors at Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines were running out of options to save her life, and just after 8.40am on Tuesday, Mariana lost her fight against the virus and passed away in her father's arms.

'She is now no longer suffering and is with the Lord,' Nicole wrote in a 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' // <\/s'+'cript>'); // --> //]]> From ICE