Erin Bates is bravely sharing her recovery journey after a life-threatening battle with sepsis. The “Bringing Up Bates” alum revealed she has lost function in her right leg following severe complications that developed shortly after she and husband Chad Paine welcomed their seventh baby, Henry.
“We don’t have all the answers yet,” Erin, 34, wrote on Instagram September 13. “I still don’t have function in my right leg, but we are choosing to count every blessing, especially the gift of being together again.”
She also expressed gratitude to her fans, adding, “Your prayers have carried us through and mean the world to our family.”
Seizure & ICU Stay After Birth
Her update came nearly two weeks after Chad revealed that Erin had suffered a “lengthy and severe seizure” and was admitted to the ICU. She developed a severe UTI and kidney infection that led to septic shock, just days after giving birth.
“Up to this point, Erin’s infection was getting better,” Chad, 38, wrote on Sept. 4. “But we found ourselves back in a place of heartache, uncertainty, and tears. Erin is extremely weak and spent hours only half-conscious.”
He added, “As her husband, it is one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced, to sit by her side and watch her struggle while being so helpless to ease her suffering. I love her more deeply than words can express, and I can’t even imagine life without my best friend.”
Support From Family & Friends
Erin shared her gratitude for her parents’ help during this difficult time. In a September 15 Instagram post alongside a video of her mother, Kathy, cooking, she wrote, “So thankful to have my Mom here to help us navigate this journey!”
Chad also expressed his appreciation, saying, “We have been completely overwhelmed by the love and support of family and friends during this difficult season. 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.”
Photos Show Family By Her Side
Erin and Chad shared several emotional photos documenting the journey. One showed Erin in a hospital bed with an oxygen mask as family members stood by her side. Another captured her mother, Kelly Jo Bates, holding baby Henry, while her father, Gil Bates, posed with his newest grandchild.
Other photos highlighted Chad pushing Erin in a wheelchair with Henry in her arms, and sweet moments of the couple’s older children being cared for by loved ones.
Along with Henry, the couple are parents to six more children: Carson, 10, Brooklyn, 8, Everly, 7, Holland, 5, Finley, 3, and William, 22 months.
