Fox News star Bret Baier and his family are expressing gratitude after his 16-year-old son, Paul, was rushed to the hospital and underwent an unexpected open-heart surgery last week.
In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Paul shared his appreciation for the community that has supported him throughout his life, saying, “I’m so grateful to have the community I have, and to have my life. A lot can change in a matter of five hours.”
Paul was born with five congenital heart defects, and has undergone more than a dozen surgeries throughout his young life.
His first open-heart procedure took place when he was just a newborn, followed by three more at 10 months old, 6 years old, and 13 years old.
The events leading up to Paul’s most recent emergency surgery began when he caught a common cold while in Palm Beach, Florida, where the family resides when not in Washington, D.C.
As a precautionary measure, Paul’s mother, Amy, took him to see a doctor. Although the doctor believed Paul had rhinovirus, a common ailment, she recommended a chest X-ray due to his history of heart problems.
The X-ray revealed what the physician initially thought was tissue on Paul’s lungs, prompting her to send the scan to his cardiologist in Washington, D.C. A few days later, the cardiologist called to recommend an MRI.
Paul flew back to Washington, accompanied by his father, Bret, for what they assumed would be a routine appointment.
However, the MRI results revealed a shocking discovery.
“The MRI comes back, and they sit me down and say, ‘This is a really big deal. This is an aneurysm the size of a golf ball that has formed off of his heart,'” Bret, who hosts Special Report with Bret Baier on the Fox News Channel, told PEOPLE. “And they didn’t know whether it might burst, but if it did, it might have been fatal in a matter of minutes.”
Doctors urged Paul to undergo open-heart surgery as soon as possible, scheduling the procedure for the following morning.
Bret, tasked with breaking the news to his son, found that Paul took the information in stride. “He thought I was joking at first, then he absorbed it and said, ‘Okay, let’s do what we need to do,'” Bret, 53, shared. “He’s always been that warrior, but this was a big one to absorb.”
In the hours leading up to the surgery, Bret and Paul spent quality time together on the golf course, with Paul, a varsity golf and tennis player, chipping for a birdie on the final hole to beat his father. They enjoyed a nice dinner before facing a sleepless night ahead of the surgery.
The following day Bret said it was “pretty tough” and “very emotional” when Paul was wheeled away on a gurney. The family then endured a 10-hour wait while the surgery was underway, which Bret described as “excruciating.”
Fortunately, the surgery was successful, and doctors believe this will be Paul’s last open-heart procedure. Five days after the surgery, Paul was able to return home, with his father capturing a poignant photo of his son standing in Children’s National Hospital before their departure.
Bret shared the image on social media, side-by-side with a photo of Paul as a baby following his first open-heart surgery 16 years ago at the same hospital.
BREAKING NEWS ALERT: AN ABSOLUTE MIRACLE — Fox News host Bret Baier’s son, 16, is recovering from emergency open heart surgery for a golf ball-sized aneurism.
Fox News host Bret Baier’s 16-year-old son, Paul, is recovering from emergency open heart surgery after doctors… pic.twitter.com/L2IpnIi9nS
— Saint James Hartline (@JamesHartline) May 2, 2024
As Paul recovers at home, he faces about six weeks of recovery before he can resume normal activities like swinging a golf club or tennis racket.
Amy, Paul’s mother, said it was important to seek a second opinion when you’re unsure about health questions.
“You can never be too sure, especially with cardiac kids. The more you check on things, the better. In this case, Paul didn’t even have any cardiac symptoms. We just got lucky,” she said.
Despite the challenges he has faced, Paul remains grateful for his health and the team of doctors who saved his life.
“It’s important to be thankful for everything you have, every second of every day,” he said.
Paul’s positive attitude has had a profound impact on his family and those around him, the Baier family said. At just 16 years old, his outlook has inspired even those much older than him.
“We have a saying in the Baier family that ‘gratitude is the attitude,'” Amy said. “We learned that from Paul. Because it’s much easier when you focus on all the things you’re grateful for, rather than what is difficult.”
The Baier family’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of gratitude, resilience, and the unwavering love and support of family and community in the face of life’s challenges.