A mother of three is mourning the death of her newborn twin son, who died at a North Carolina hospital earlier this month. Gunner Bliss was just 3 weeks old when he was taken off life support at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh. His father, 22-year-old Noah Benjamin Bliss, allegedly violently shook the infant while the family stayed at WakeMed after Gunner and his twin sister, Madelyn, were born prematurely on September 14.
The infant's mother, Savannah Bliss, spoke with WRAL and recounted the day her husband allegedly snapped. She is shocked and devastated that her husband, a man she believed to be a loving and doting father, could commit such a horrible crime.
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Savannah Bliss was reportedly not in the room when Gunner died.
The mother told WRAL that her family had been staying at WakeMed's Heart Center Inn, a hospital facility that operates like a hotel for families with admitted patients. She said she left the room to visit Madelyn in the neonatal intensive care unit. Noah Bliss was in the room caring for Gunner and their 1-year-old daughter, Peyton.
"He seemed happy … like a proud father," she said. "I never thought this would have happened … I trusted him, that was his daddy … he loved his babies."
Noah Bliss allegedly shook the baby.
According to Savannah Bliss, staff at the hospital reportedly said that Gunner suffered injuries and a brain bleed consistent with a baby who had been shaken. He reportedly had no broken bones or outside injuries but was deprived of oxygen because of his head injury. Doctors took Gunner off life support on Monday, WRAL reported.
Savannah Bliss asked for privacy.
The young mother does not want to talk about the tragic death of her son, according to her Facebook account. Instead, she wants to grieve the profound loss privately and give her attention to her two daughters.
Family and friends left words of encouragement on her Facebook page.
"I love you and praying for you my sister your babies are my babies and we will always fight for them," someone wrote.
And many prayed.
"I love you and praying for you cuz Savannah Bliss I'm here for you," another comment reads.
"Praying for you daily," someone else wrote.
The father is now in jail.
After his arrest, Noah Bliss was charged with first-degree murder and intentional child abuse with serious bodily injury, CBS 17 reported. He was given no bond for the murder charge and a $500,000 bond for the child abuse charge. He is due in court November 6.
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Shaken baby syndrome is serious.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, shaking a baby can lead to severe injury and even death. There are reportedly 600 and 1,400 cases of shaken baby syndrome annually in the United States, but the Cleveland Clinic notes this type of injury is avoidable.
"Parents or caregivers who shake babies usually say that the shaking occurred when their baby was crying inconsolably. It's normal for babies to cry, and it can get stressful," the clinic's website reads. "Understanding the dangers of shaking your baby and finding support can help prevent shaken baby syndrome."
