Hello again Little one I sit here with many tears today but they are happy ones knowing Grandma is with you now you can get into Trouble lol Take care of her and know soon we will be together again we never forget Thanks for your inspiration buddy 

Great Uncle Mike

Hi little guy.  Another Birthday but this time with your Grandma.  Glad you are together this day.  Bet you have some fun plans. I can't wait to see you guy's.   

you are a powerful force to the ones who love you.  seven years have gone by and your in our hearts and thoughts often. much love from great grandpa and grandma karas.

Today is your third birthday.

I can't believe its been three years.

We should all be celebrating, instead there's only tears.


Your were a tiny angel sent to us from up above.
 
In two short days,we are forever changed, you taught us how to Love.


The minute we laid eyes on you, we loved you from the start.

Our sweet angel Corbin

You hold a very special place within our hearts.


Happy Birthday sweet little man. Have a wonderful day with all the angels in Heaven.

Love always and forever,

Grandma and Grandpa Karas                       

I have thought about you a lot this week I hope you are enjoying your family in heaven a few more have joined you this year and a few will join in the coming years I know you are making them all feel welcome as you made me the day I layed Eyes on you I can tell you with my words that you have inspired a lot of people and we cannot wait to see you again Merry Christmas my little one and your Great Uncle misses you until we meet again
Love u
Great Uncle Mike  

Stella thank you so much for your kind words. We have never met but I am very moved. You took the time to write us and that means so much to me. We are all connected and God  speaks through people. Thank you for sending us the message. May you be blessed and thank you again.

Although I am a complete stranger to you & your family, I pray that God give you all the strength to get through this most difficult time in your lives. Words, I know, can not ease the heartache you're feeling, but please know this: when God sent Baby Corbin to you, He gave Corbin a mission, as He does all of us. In Corbin's case, it was to alert mothers-to-be of the disease that took his very precious and young life. In just 2 days on this Earth, Baby Corbin accomplished the mission he was given and then was called home. Your son is a hero, in my mind. He was able to do something so very important at such a young age! He accomplished something that a person of 100 yrs could never have done! Be proud of your  baby boy!

And now, Baby Corbin is in Heaven, playing with the angels and watching over you all. Someday you will all be together again. Until then, please rest in the knowledge that your son did something so very special! He saved the lives of countless other babies! How wonderful! Again, Baby Corbin is a hero!

My deepest sympathies go out to you & your entire family. May God give you the strength to get through this most difficult time in your lives. May He surround you with His healing touch and may God heal all your hearts. I will  keep you, your family & most especially, Baby Corbin in  my thoughts & prayers. God bless you all.

Stella G. Vidales

It is very important for me to share this information because it is what took my baby boy. I want everyone to know about this disease, whether you are currently pregnant or may become pregnant in the future. I unknowingly contracted Fifth Disease during my pregnancy (either at work or my child's daycare). At the time I thought I had allergies and a mysterious rash on my lower back. The doctor told me numerous times that it's normal for women to experience rashes during pregnancy. I was told at every visit that my son was doing fine. One week before my due date I had my regular OB appointment and again was told everything was fine. I picked up my daughter from school and then went grocery shopping. Two hours after my OB appointment while in Walmart I began bleeding. The doctor on call advised me to go straight to the hospital. Shortly after arriving I had an emergency ceserian.

The Fifth Disease that I contracted during pregnancy was passed to my son. He was immediately in distress. NICU was called and it took 15 minutes for him to take his first breath. He was born severely anemic which caused an enlarged heart, multiple organ failure and seizures. Less than 48 hours later he went into cardiac arrest.

Also, There is a simple blood test your doctor can take early in the pregneancy to check if you are immune. The statistics for this virus are unclear because alot of babies are miscarried or stillborn and moms may never know what happened. We would have never known had it not been for the "coincidental" conversation that my mother had with her boss (a doctor). All women should be tested for immunity and I pray for a vaccination soon.

Below is some information on Fifth Disease that I highly encourage you to read and pass along. I was not diagnosed in time to save Corbin, but I pray this information saves others the heartbreak my family has experienced.

What is fifth disease?

Fifth disease, also called erythema infectiosum, is a viral illness caused by human parvovirus B19. It occurs most commonly in children ages 4 to 14. The infection often starts with mild fever, sore throat, and flu-like symptoms. Children also develop a bright red rash on the face that looks like "slapped cheeks." Along with the facial rash, a lacy or bumpy rash may appear on the body, arms, and legs. Joint aches occur more commonly in adults than children. Rash and joint symptoms may develop several weeks after infection. A pregnant woman who develops symptoms of fifth disease may or may not develop facial or body rash. About 20 to 30 percent of adults infected with parvovirus B19 have no symptoms.

Is fifth disease contagious?

Yes, fifth disease is contagious. The virus is spread through contact with secretions of the nose and lungs, and through contact with blood. The incubation period (the time between infection and the development of the illness) is between 4 and 21 days.

Individuals with fifth disease are most infectious before the onset of symptoms and are unlikely to be contagious after the development of the rash and other symptoms. This makes efforts to prevent exposure very difficult.

I don’t remember ever having fifth disease. Can I develop the infection?

Because fifth disease is a mild illness, many adults may not be aware that they have had it, especially since many people do not have symptoms. About 50 percent of adults have had the infection, have antibodies to the virus, and are immune. These antibodies prevent infection for you and your unborn baby. A blood test can be done to look for the antibodies and tell if you have had a recent infection or are not immune.

I don’t think I’ve had fifth disease and I am an elementary school teacher. Could I be exposed at work?

Many women in occupations such as daycare supervision and teaching have antibodies to parvovirus B19 and thus are not at risk for infection. You can ask your doctor to do a blood test for antibodies to parvovirus B19 to see if you are immune to fifth disease. If you are not immune to the disease, there is a 20 to 30 percent risk that you will be infected following exposure in a school or daycare setting.

My children had fifth disease about 3 weeks ago and now my joints are sore. I am pregnant. Could I have fifth disease?

Yes, it is possible that you have fifth disease. However, there are many other causes of joint pain. Your doctor may consider ordering a blood test to check for antibodies to fifth disease. If you are not immune, you have a 50 percent risk of becoming infected from contact with an infected family member.

I am 14 weeks pregnant and testing showed that I recently had fifth disease. Is my pregnancy at increased risk of problems because of the infection?

Many studies show that the majority of women who become infected with fifth disease during pregnancy deliver healthy babies. In a small number of cases, fetal loss (miscarriage or stillbirth) can occur. Infection in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy has about a 10% risk of fetal loss.

Infection after 20 weeks gestation has less of a risk for fetal loss (about 1%).

Fifth disease does not cause birth defects. However, if a woman is infected during pregnancy, it is possible for the infection to pass to the baby. Fetal infection with fifth disease can lead to inflammation of the heart (myocarditis) and can damage the bone marrow so that red blood cells cannot be made. This can lead to anemia, a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. If the heart damage or anemia is severe, hydrops (excess fluid in fetal tissues) can occur and may lead to fetal death. Sometimes, the hydrops disappears and most of these babies will not have problems at birth. Rarely, a baby is born unable to make red blood cells and will need transfusions.

I had fifth disease when I was 10 weeks pregnant. Are there any tests I can have done to see if my baby is OK?

An ultrasound (sound wave pictures of the baby) can tell whether the baby has hydrops and can look at the amount of amniotic fluid around the baby. A series of ultrasounds for several months after the time of infection may be helpful. Your doctor may want to do some other tests to detect whether the baby has anemia, such as using ultrasound to measure blood flow through a vessel in the baby’s brain.

Are there any treatments available?

At this time there are no vaccines or medications available to prevent or treat maternal fifth disease.

Frequent ultrasounds to detect hydrops are recommended when a mother tests positive for fifth disease. When a fetus develops severe anemia and hydrops in the second and third trimester, fetal blood transfusions have successfully been done. Developmental delay has been observed in a small number of children who underwent blood transfusion before birth. However, most children who received blood transfusions have had normal long-term development.

If you are in your third trimester there may be consideration of an early delivery if your baby is showing signs of hydrops.

Dear Corbin,

God gave me strength to help your Mommy and Daddy when you were sick.  He dried my eyes and allowed me to keep it together for our family.  Now that the water is a bit calmer my heart is heavy and my eyes are wet. I wish I could have held you, kissed you and watched you grow.  I wish I could make your Mommy stop hurting but I know I can't. I pray for the day we will all be together again.

Love,

Your Auntie Sarah

Tiny Angel rest your wings sit with me for awhile.

How I long to hold your hand, and see your tender smile.

Tiny Angel, look at me, I want this image clear........

That I will forget your precious face is my biggest fear.

Tiny Angel can you tell me, why you have gone away?

You weren't here for very long..... Why is it you couldn't stay?

Tiny Angel shook his head, "These things I do not know.....

But I do know that you Love me, and that I Love you so."