I’m sharing this heartbreaking last photo of my baby girl to spare other parents our agony
A HEARTBROKEN mum has shared the last photos of her baby girl to warn other parents not to let their kids mingle if they are ill.
Emily Lang's daughter, Presley Meeks, died after the mum thinks she caught a common virus during a playdate.
The 20-year-old claims the youngster picked up respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from a pal's baby, with no prior warning they were ill.
Presley had a rare genetic disorder that left her with a weaker immune system, and was rushed to intensive care a week later.
Within just two days, Presley's heart had stopped several times and while she lay on life support, Emily, from North Dakota, US, made the crushing decision to turn off the helpless baby's life support.
Now Emily is warning others not to touch people's babies and keep their sick kids inside.
Read more on RSV
The virus is common with most babies catching it before they are two, but it can be serious for some children.
Emily said: "One of my friend's babies had RSV and she didn't tell me. She brought the baby to my house and the next day, I found out she was diagnosed with RSV. She told me.
"That's how Presley got it. It was from her baby. Someone must have kissed that baby which caused her to get it, then she was playing with Presley which caused her to get it.
"It's crazy how it can spread so fast all from kissing a baby.
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"It has to be you being sick and you kissing or touching a baby. It's mostly caused by kissing or touching babies when you're sick.
"My friend's baby was playing with a lot of her toys and had them in her mouth. She was touching Presley so she definitely got it from her.
"It was heart-breaking [to turn off Presley's life support] but knowing I got to spend 11 months with her was great.
"You have to be very cautious. RSV is very bad for babies.
"My message to people who kiss babies is to stay away. Even if you don't think you're sick, it's not your baby.
"Be cautious. Don't bring sick children to play dates or day care, and no kissing or touching babies.
"Babies do get sick and it's harder on their system. Try not to touch them as much as you love them."
What is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)?
- RSV is a very common virus and most children will be infected with it by the age of two.
- Younger children under two, especially those born prematurely or with a heart condition, can suffer more serious consequences which might make it hard for them to breathe
- RSV is one of the most common viruses which causes bronchiolitis
- Symptoms of severe respiratory infection in at-risk children, including a high temperature of 37.8°C or above (fever), a dry and persistent cough, difficulty feeding, rapid or noisy breathing (wheezing)
Emily thinks her friend's baby may have caught the illness by being kissed by someone with it, though it can also be spread by any infected person coughing or sneezing near others.
She said: "They sat me down and said they didn't think she was going to make it. They said I had the choice whether to let her fight or pull the plug and just let her go because she was very ill.
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"I decided to let her go because she'd already fought so much in her life. There was no reason for her to keep suffering through all these illnesses and RSV was a bad one. It would have been a long recovery."
Emily is determined to honour Presley's memory by spreading awareness of the dangers of being sick around infants.
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