Duck Dynasty’s John Godwin Says Premature Twin Granddaughters Making Steady Progress in NICU

The family said the infants are approaching key milestones needed to return home.

Television personality John Godwin attends the “Duck Commander Musical” premiere at the Crown Theater at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 15, 2015. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Twin granddaughters of “Duck Dynasty” star John Godwin remain under neonatal care following their premature birth, though their family says the infants are making steady progress and approaching key milestones needed to return home.

The twins were born earlier than expected after their mother, Johanna Mata, experienced complications related to preeclampsia, a pregnancy condition associated with dangerously high blood pressure and increased risks to both mother and child. Physicians often recommend early delivery in cases where symptoms escalate despite medical intervention, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Godwin later detailed the circumstances surrounding the births on a recent episode of the Duck Call Room podcast, describing the emotional strain of watching his daughter’s condition worsen while doctors attempted to manage it.

“They’re here too early,” Godwin said, explaining that while the situation was difficult for the family, the newborns were receiving specialized care. “They’re in the best place they could be right now.”

According to Godwin, Mata had been placed under close medical supervision after her blood pressure rose to critical levels, prompting doctors to place her on a 24-hour watch as they evaluated whether delivery could be postponed. That plan changed early the following morning.

“She calls at 5:30 the next morning, said, ‘Y’all need to get up here, y’all fixin’ to have grandkids,’” he recalled.

Godwin said he and his wife, Paula, immediately left for the hospital but arrived moments after their daughter had been taken into surgery.

“We got there, and she was gone five minutes,” he said.

The twins were delivered safely, and Mata’s condition improved following their birth, though her recovery was not immediate. Godwin said she required magnesium treatment and remained weak for several days afterward.

“She didn’t even get to hold ’em for a day and a half,” he said. “Yeah, it was tough.”

Despite the difficult start, both infants have continued to progress under medical supervision, and the family has expressed gratitude for ongoing prayers and support as they prepare for the possibility of bringing the twins home.

In a Dec. 28 Facebook update, Mata shared that her newborn daughters, Cassandra and Isabella, had been removed from respiratory support and feeding tubes as doctors continue monitoring their development.

“Both are off CPAP, light blankets, and feeding tubes,” she wrote, adding that the girls are now focused on feeding, weight gain, and maintaining stable oxygen and heart function. “They are excelling in everything and we are hopeful that maybe we are looking at coming home very soon.”

John Godwin is best known for his role on A&E’s Duck Dynasty, which chronicled the lives of the Robertson family and their Duck Commander business. A longtime friend and employee of the Robertsons, Godwin worked for Duck Commander for more than two decades as a decoy technician and duck call builder before announcing his retirement in 2024.