> At a Glance
> – Duck Dynasty’s John Godwin says preemie twins Cassandra & Isabella are improving in NICU
> – Mom Johanna Mata delivered early after preeclampsia raised her blood pressure
> – Dec. 28 update: babies off CPAP, light blankets, feeding tubes
> – Why it matters: Shows rapid progress for 34-week preemies amid family’s public gratitude
John Godwin shared a hopeful health update on the newest Duck Dynasty generation during the Duck Call Room podcast.
Emergency Arrival
Godwin recalled the frantic 5:30 a.m. call: “Y’all need to get up here, y’all fixin’ to have grandkids.” He and wife Paula sped 40 minutes to the hospital while daughter Johanna was rushed to the operating room for an emergency delivery.
Doctors had placed her on 24-hour watch after preeclampsia spiked her blood pressure, forcing the early birth.
NICU Milestones
The twins, born at 34 weeks, have stayed in neonatal intensive care since delivery. Johanna’s Dec. 28 Facebook post listed their latest wins:
- Off CPAP breathing support
- No longer under light-therapy blankets
- Feeding tubes removed
> “We are working on eating and gaining weight, and monitoring their oxygen and hearts,” she wrote, adding they “are excelling in everything” and could head home soon.
Family Reaction
Godwin admitted the family was “awful anxious” but trusts the NICU staff: “They’re in the best place they could be right now.”
Mata received magnesium treatment and didn’t hold her daughters for a day and a half. She thanked supporters for “continuing prayers and for the blessings God has given!”
Key Takeaways
- Early birth triggered by maternal preeclampsia
- Twins steadily hitting NICU discharge benchmarks
- Family credits hospital care and community prayers
The Godwin-Mata family now anticipates bringing Cassandra and Isabella home soon.
