He spent six weeks on a life-support machine as doctors worked frantically to save him.
But he died aged just two months. The cause of death was multiple organ failure triggered by the herpes simplex virus.
Mum Marrie-Claire McCormick, 28, told of the horrifying moment they learned what had stricken Kaiden.
She said: “When they said herpes, I just couldn’t believe it. I asked how it was possible for a baby to have herpes.
“When they said it was transmitted via the cold sore virus I looked at Carl and he instinctively touched his lip.
“In that moment, I saw his heart break in two. Carl just broke down.
“He was totally distraught and kept saying he blamed himself. But I never once blamed Carl.
“All he’d ever done was shower our baby with love and affection. He’d been the perfect father. I hated seeing him punish himself.”
Painter and decorator Carl, of Bootle, Merseyside, said: “I blame myself but I had no idea. Obviously if I had I wouldn’t have gone near him and he’d still be here today.”
Kaiden was born five weeks premature on March 28 and was allowed home after three days.
But after refusing to take his bottle he suddenly turned blue — sparking a terrifying emergency.
He was rushed by ambulance to Alder Hey Hospital, Liverpool. But after 48 hours, doctors warned his survival chances were slim.
When Kaiden started suffering seizures, his parents were gently asked about switching off the life-support — and Marrie-Claire held her son one last time.
Doctors were obliged to inform the police the illness was unexplained. But no charges were brought after the death was confirmed as a tragic accident.
Now the couple are calling on the Government to make sure expectant parents are aware of the risks cold sores pose.
Marrie-Claire, who is pregnant again, said: “There’s only one thing that comes anywhere close to the pain of losing our son, and that’s the anguish of knowing his death could have been prevented.
“Nobody told us that Carl’s cold sore posed suck a risk. We showered him with love and kisses.”
She added: “Now all we can do is warn other parents to save them the same pain and suffering.
“No baby should die from a kiss. We don’t want Kaiden’s death to have been in vain.”
Why is a herpes carrier breeding? The baby did not simply die from "a kiss"!
ReplyDeleteAnon, obviously you're ignorant here. Cold sores, those red, swollen, normally-seasonal sores that can pop up on your lip are a very contagious form of herpes, most often herpes simplex-1. Normally, carriers contract the virus by sharing a drink or kiss with contagious individual, and you can carry the virus for years before an outbreak. In fact, studies show that 75% of the population carries the virus.
Deletehttp://www.herpesite.org/overview-of-herpes-infections-coldsores-genital/
So the point I'm getting at is that Kaiden did not contract the virus via sexual contact as you imply.
No you idiot he's saying that the man should clearly not have had a child... or at least have looked into health risks by asking a doctor (assuming he knew he was a carrier of course)
DeleteYou are a retard. Please kill yourself.
DeleteWhat a horrible comment anon. Certainly hope you've taken yourself out of the gene pool as well, LOL
ReplyDeleteThe first poster is likely either a troll or ignorant of the nature of viral infections. It's possible Anon is righteously assuming genital herpes and attaching a different form of ignorant judgment. But this story is not referring to genital herpes, but to Herpes Simplex I, which is carried by a vast majority of humans. It's almost as common as the symbiotic bacteria we carry in our gut, but we just usually do not always exhibit symptoms. (Example, a story showing 98% of sample study shed HSI, even when not showing symptoms: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/01/050106111129.htm)
ReplyDeleteThe human microbiome (microorganisms that exist in and on us) is unavoidable and often a necessary defense against other microbial invaders. Babies are just unfortunately very vulnerable before they have built up their resistances. This is a tragedy, and not the father's fault anymore than it is the fault of the baby for not having an adult immune system.
Thank you poster #3 for the explanation. It was more helpful than #2's LOL-comment. I think that the first poster was probably horrified at the risks that the second baby could face.
ReplyDeleteOh my god
ReplyDeleteThat first poster is an idiot. My dad gets those all the time and I never have. Niether has my mother.its not like tbis form of herpes is "OH MY GOD. SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED HERPES." No. Cold sores ARE a form of herpes.