The birth of twins should be a time of immense joy, but for one family, that joy has been shattered by an unimaginable tragedy. Savannah Bliss was navigating the complex reality of having two premature newborns in the hospital, dividing her time between them in the neonatal intensive care unit. She trusted her husband, Noah Bliss, to care for their three-week-old son, Gunner, while she attended to his twin sister. It was during this time, in the temporary family housing at WakeMed hospital, that the unthinkable occurred, leading to a loss that has left a mother heartbroken and seeking justice.
According to the young mother, her newborn son sustained catastrophic injuries while under his father’s care. Medical staff later informed her that Gunner’s injuries were consistent with being violently shaken. The infant showed no external signs of abuse, such as bruises or broken bones, but he had suffered severe internal trauma. The shaking caused bleeding and swelling in his brain, which ultimately deprived him of oxygen. This devastating diagnosis led to the infant being removed from life support, a decision no parent should ever have to face.
In the aftermath, Noah Benjamin Bliss was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, along with child abuse and inflicting serious bodily injury. He appeared in court, where he was ordered to be held in jail without bond. The legal process now moves forward, but it offers little solace to a grieving mother who must now plan a funeral instead of a homecoming for her son. The family’s temporary stay at the hospital’s family inn, a place meant for support during medical crises, became the setting for a profound personal disaster.
Savannah Bliss is now left to piece together the events that led to her son’s death, struggling to reconcile the image of a seemingly proud father with the horrific act he is accused of committing. She remembers her husband as happy and devoted, making the alleged violence all the more confusing and painful. Her focus now is on honoring the memory of her son, whom she describes as the sweetest boy with beautiful blue eyes, a child whose life was cut tragically short.
This heartbreaking case serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of infant life and the devastating consequences of shaken baby syndrome. As the mother continues to care for Gunner’s surviving twin sister, she does so with a heart weighed down by grief. Her sole pursuit now is justice for her innocent son, a quest for accountability in the face of a loss that defies all understanding. The family’s story is a tragic testament to how a moment of violence can irrevocably destroy a world of promise.
