A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded at a North Carolina hospital earlier this month when a newborn twin, Gunner Bliss, passed away at just three weeks old.
His grieving mother, Savannah Bliss, is left in shock and sorrow after the loss of her son, who was allegedly violently shaken by his father, 22-year-old Noah Benjamin Bliss, while the family was staying at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh. Gunner and his twin sister, Madelyn, had been born prematurely on September 14.
Savannah Bliss shared her harrowing account with WRAL, describing the day her husband’s actions took a tragic turn. She had left their hospital room to visit Madelyn in the neonatal intensive care unit, leaving Noah Bliss responsible for caring for Gunner and their 1-year-old daughter, Peyton.
Hospital staff later informed Savannah Bliss that Gunner had sustained injuries and a brain bleed consistent with shaken baby syndrome. Although there were no apparent external injuries or broken bones, the infant had suffered oxygen deprivation due to his head injury. Tragically, doctors made the heart-wrenching decision to remove Gunner from life support, as reported by WRAL.
The devastated mother has chosen to process her grief privately and focus her attention on her two surviving daughters, as indicated on her Facebook account. Friends and family have offered words of comfort and support on her social media page, expressing their love and prayers for her and her family during this painful time.
In the wake of this tragedy, Noah Bliss has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and intentional child abuse with serious bodily injury, according to CBS 17. He has been denied bond for the murder charge and given a $500,000 bond for the child abuse charge. His court appearance is scheduled for November 6.
This heartbreaking incident underscores the dangers of shaking a baby, which can lead to severe injuries or even death, as highlighted by the Cleveland Clinic. While it’s not uncommon for babies to cry inconsolably, understanding the risks and seeking support can help prevent shaken baby syndrome, a wholly avoidable tragedy.