Erin Bates’ husband, Chad Paine, is grateful to be surrounded by a village of loved ones amid his wife’s ongoing health struggles.
Paine, 38, took to Instagram on Friday, September 12, to share a carousel of photos featuring several Bates family members, including Erin’s parents, Gil and Kelly Jo Bates, and her siblings Alyssa Bates Webster, Tori Bates Smith, Michaela Bates Keilen, Lawson Bates and Lawson’s wife, Tiffany Espensen.
The images showed Erin’s family visiting her in the hospital, caring for her and Paine’s newborn son, Henry, and spending time with the couple’s six other children: Carson, 10, Brooklyn, 9, Everly, 7, Holland, 5, Finley, 3, and William, 22 months.
“We have been completely overwhelmed by the love and support of family and friends during this difficult season,” Paine wrote in the caption. “From watching the kids and taking them on adventures, to helping with baby Henry and lifting Erin up with encouragement — you have carried us in ways we can’t even put into words. We don’t know how to say thank you enough, but we are truly, deeply grateful. ❤️.”
Paine announced Henry’s birth via Instagram on August 27.
“After a long and emotional labor, our miracle arrived. Henry Blythe was born August 25th. 💙,” he wrote. “Henry is doing wonderful, but we would so appreciate your prayers for Erin as she continues to recover from some complications. We thank the Lord for carrying us through and for the gift of this precious boy.”
Paine later revealed that Erin, 34, had gone into septic shock after she developed a “severe UTI and kidney infection.” Septic shock is the final and most severe stage of sepsis, which is the immune system’s “extreme reaction to an infection,” according to Cleveland Clinic. Sepsis can cause organ failure, tissue damage or even death.
In a follow-up post on September 1, Paine thanked fans for their “prayers and support” and shared that Henry was “doing well in the NICU.” Meanwhile, he shared more details about Erin’s “complications” during and after childbirth.
“Her labor was longer and more intense than previous births. She has been fighting through it and has been such a light and sweet testimony of grace to nurses, staff and doctors alike. We are all moved by her kindness and gratefulness in the midst of pain,” he continued.
Paine noted that Erin was in the ICU as doctors continued to “treat, diagnose and search for answers.”
Days later, Paine shared on September 4 that Erin had suffered a “severe seizure” and was “half conscious.” In another update on Sunday, September 6, Paine wrote that Erin seemed to be recovering once again and was moved to a new facility to continue treatment.
Gil, 60, and Kelly Jo, 58, also shared a statement on Wednesday, September 10, in which they thanked fans for their prayers and explained why they have not been able to post more frequent updates on Erin’s condition.
“We’ve hesitated to share updates since Erin’s diagnosis has changed several times,” the Bringing Up Bates alums wrote. “She’d recover from one thing, just to experience yet another complication. It’s puzzled the doctors who’ve done a significant amount of testing, so without an exact diagnosis and with her condition changing often, it’s been harder to share [updates].”
