A newborn baby girl was healthy for just 36 hours before a devastating infection changed everything — her mother’s heartbreaking warning is now reaching thousands of families.

The little girl was Aliza Rose Friend, from Oakland, Maryland, USA. Her mother, Abigail, said Aliza appeared perfectly healthy during her first 36 hours of life. But then, the newborn developed a fever, became increasingly weak and showed no interest in breastfeeding. Doctors confirmed that she had contracted neonatal HSV-1, a herpes simplex virus infection.

Aliza’s condition deteriorated rapidly. The infection severely affected her lungs and brain, leaving her struggling to breathe and experiencing seizures.

Hope emerged when doctors told her parents, Abigail, 19, and Tyler Hensley, 26, that Aliza still had a chance of survival. But on May 20, they received the heartbreaking news that their little girl had been declared brain-dead. Life-support measures were subsequently withdrawn.

Doctors explained that Aliza may have contracted the infection after being kissed by someone carrying the herpes simplex virus. This common virus can sometimes appear as cold sores around the mouth.

“Aliza was completely healthy for more than a day after birth. It took just six and a half days for the virus to devastate her little body. Some family members and a few close friends visited after I gave birth. We have no way of knowing who passed it to her because this is such a common virus. Almost anyone can carry it. For all I know, it could even have been a healthcare professional,” Abigail recalled.

Describing Aliza’s first symptoms, Abigail said: “She started developing a fever and stopped wanting to wake up after her little naps. She didn’t want to feed either. Aliza began swelling as fluid accumulated in her lungs. Her brain became severely swollen. Her lungs were affected too, to the point where you could see all the blood vessels across her chest.”

As doctors worked desperately to help Aliza, they had to give her medication to keep her comfortable and ease her suffering. However, the combination of several medications was followed by seizures.

“She was struggling to breathe, and doctors had to put her on a ventilator. Eventually, her little body was surrounded by machines and tubes. You could hardly recognise that she was a newborn baby,” Abigail recalled painfully.

“I was allowed to go in and sit beside her for a little while. I just sat there, looking at my daughter surrounded by all those machines and wires. Watching them breathe for my little girl. It was an unbearable feeling in my throat.”

“On May 19, doctors told us they had not expected Aliza to get better. But they said there was still a possibility of recovery. I asked them if there was any hope, even if it was just false hope. But they assured me that the hope was real.”

However, just one day later, Aliza was declared brain-dead. Her mother heartbreakingly sang “You Are My Sunshine” as her little girl passed away.

“The only way I can describe it is that it completely shattered my soul. Aliza was a chubby, happy and beautiful little girl. Not a moment goes by when I don’t think about her. She is in my thoughts every single day,” the young mother said.

Although doctors believed Aliza may have contracted the virus through a kiss or contact with unwashed hands, there was no way to determine exactly who had passed it to her.

Months after the heartbreaking loss, Abigail Friend finally felt strong enough to share her family’s story, hoping to encourage other parents to be cautious about allowing people to kiss their newborns.

In a Facebook post that received more than 500,000 reactions, Abigail wrote: “REMEMBER TO WASH YOUR HANDS. DO NOT KISS NEWBORN BABIES.”

“I will never stop sharing the heartbreaking story of our sweet little Aliza Rose. Someone touched her without washing their hands or kissed her face while carrying the virus. Anyone can carry this virus without showing a single symptom!

“Herpes can be extremely dangerous to newborns, particularly during their first two weeks of life. Even parents can unknowingly pass the virus to their own babies! Please help us protect more newborns by sharing our story and NOT KISSING BABIES.”

Neonatal herpes is a rare but serious condition. It affects approximately 1.65 babies per 100,000 births each year in the UK, while the reported rate in the United States is around 33 per 100,000.

“I had absolutely no idea this could happen to a newborn until it happened to my own daughter. The condition is so rare that, as a first-time mother, you might never have heard of it.

“But herpes is an incredibly common virus. So many people don’t realise how serious it can be for newborn babies. It can spread through the body and affect vital organs, including the brain and lungs.

“There is no simple cure, and babies in their first two weeks of life are particularly vulnerable. Even those who survive may require extensive medical care and long-term monitoring.

“I never want another family to experience the heartbreak we have endured. Please wash your hands, avoid kissing newborns and help spread awareness. It could make all the difference to another family.”