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 (9)
January 8, 2026
Sutton had an amazing first Christmas filled with lots of fun, noisy toys and time spent with all of her family. She is definitely spoiled-I mean well loved! Seeing her surrounded by so many people who care about her meant more to us than we can put into words.Since then, we have continued to make very slow but steady progress in feeding therapy. Every small step forward still matters, and we are holding on to those wins.We did experience a setback recently. Sutton was admitted to the hospital from January 2nd through January 5th due to ongoing feeding issues following RSV. During her stay, she underwent a contrast scan, which confirmed that her Nissen fundoplication is still functioning properly. While we are very relieved to know everything looks intact, we still do not have a clear explanation for the intermittent vomiting she has experienced on and off for several months.It is difficult to feel both grateful that she is stable and frustrated by the lack of clear answers. We are scheduled to follow up with her GI doctor on February 3rd, or sooner if an earlier appointment becomes available, and we are hopeful that appointment will provide more clarity.Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and encouragement!
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.
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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
