I have read the posts  about your little Gaelin and my eyes filled with
tears. How my heart aches for the grief you must feel! then I read your post
>He began sucking, to my surprise and delight!<< how wonderful. I think you
are on the right track but I wonder if feeding him with a  syringe is the
best way to proceed. We've all seen babies who get addicted to the hardness
of a syringe or a nipple shield. Perhaps fingerfeeding with a soft tube might
be the better way to go.
I'm thinking of you, hang in there.
Marie Davis