Small but Mighty: Sutton's G-Tube Journey
Sutton came into our lives through IVF, and from the very beginning, she has shown incredible strength. Just two days after birth, she was transferred to a higher-level NICU, where she spent 40 days fighting to grow, thrive, and learn how to eat.
During her NICU stay, Sutton faced challenges with her breathing and feeding. She required oxygen support with a nasal cannula, and an NG tube was placed to help her get the nutrition she needed. A swallow study later revealed that Sutton has silent aspirations, which meant she was unable to safely drink by mouth. Since then, she has also struggled with bottle aversions.
Updates (8)
December 14, 2025
We realized it’s been a little while since our last update on October 29th. Life has been full and busy with the holidays, work, therapies, and navigating Sutton’s ongoing medical needs but we wanted to take a moment to share how she’s doing.Overall, Sutton continues to work hard every single day. She did experience a bit of a setback recently after catching a common cold, which caused significant nasal congestion and made feeding and therapy more difficult for a time. Thankfully, she’s back to pushing forward again, even if progress continues to be slow.We recently switched Sutton to Neocate formula, and she is tolerating it much better. Feeding is still a long journey, but we are making small steps. We are continuing feeding therapy, introducing more purées, and trying Neocate mixed with oatmeal. We’ve also started practicing drinking from a Honey Bear cup to help build her feeding skills.On the developmental side, we finally reached a HUGE milestone as Sutton can now sit up on her own for a very short period of time! This is a big win for her. Rolling is still something she’s working toward, but we remain hopeful and encouraged by her determination.We also finally heard back from the genetics team and have an appointment scheduled for March 2026 in Jacksonville, FL. At that visit, we’ll discuss further testing and hopefully begin to understand the “why” behind the many challenges Sutton has faced since birth and her NICU stay.Before the year ends, we also have our last GI appointment on the 23rd. We’re hoping to switch Sutton’s MIC-Key G-tube button to a longer size especially since our girl is now over 13 pounds! Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for continuing to support Sutton, pray for her, and follow along on this journey with us. Your kindness, encouragement, and generosity truly mean more than words can express.
October 30, 2025
It’s been a busy and exciting few weeks for our little fighter. Sutton has been working hard in both feeding and physical therapy, and she recently started VitalStim, an electrical stimulation therapy that helps strengthen her swallowing muscles. This will help her eat more comfortably and efficiently as she continues practicing with her bottle.She’s also trying small amounts of stage 1 baby foods like sweet potatoes and carrots—such a huge milestone in her progress. Each step forward reminds us how strong she is and how far she’s come.We are so thankful for every prayer, message, and act of kindness that has supported our family along the way. Your love and encouragement mean so much as we continue to cheer Sutton on in her journey.
Photo Galleries (4)
Guestbook
September 12, 2025
We are praying for sweet baby Sutton and your family. We love y’all.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight,”
2 Corinthians 5:7
Fran Boynton
September 11, 2025
You’ve shown such strength through everything, and it’s inspiring to everyone who knows you. Please remember you’re not walking this road alone—so many of us are standing with you, cheering you on, and ready to support in any way we can.
Brea Wiggins
