Erin Bates has finally returned home to her little bundle of joy. Weeks after the "Bringing Up Bates" alum was hospitalized due to complications following the birth of her and Chad Paine's seventh child, Henry, her husband shared a heartfelt update on her recovery journey.
"After nearly three weeks in the hospital, I've never been more grateful to finally head home to our babies," Chad captioned an Instagram post on September 13, accompanied by several touching photos, including one of himself pushing Erin and baby Henry in a wheelchair. "We don't have all the answers yet, and I still haven't regained full function in my right leg, but we're choosing to count every blessing—especially the gift of being together again."
He added, "Your prayers have sustained us through this challenging time and mean the world to our family."
The 34-year-old's latest health update comes nearly two weeks after Chad revealed that Erin had suffered a "prolonged and severe seizure" and was admitted to the ICU after developing a severe UTI and kidney infection, which sent her into septic shock shortly after giving birth.
"Up to this point, Erin's infection was showing signs of improvement, but we found ourselves back in a place of heartache, uncertainty, and tears," Chad—who also shares children Carson, 10, Brooklyn, 8, Everly, 7, Holland, 5, Finley, 3, and William, 22 months, with Erin—wrote on Instagram on September 4. "The doctors are conducting scans and tests to determine the cause. Erin is extremely weak and has spent hours only half-conscious."
"As her husband, it's been one of the toughest challenges I've ever faced—to sit by her side and watch her struggle while feeling so helpless to ease her suffering," he continued. "I love her more deeply than words can express, and I can't even fathom life without my best friend."
Since then, Erin's parents, Gil Bates and Kathy Bates, have shared insights into the barrage of complications and uncertain diagnoses that have followed. "We've hesitated to share updates, as Erin's diagnosis has changed multiple times," the couple wrote on their Instagram Stories on September 10. "She'd recover from one issue only to face another complication. It's puzzled the doctors, who've conducted extensive testing, so without an exact diagnosis and with her condition fluctuating often, it's been harder to share."
"We've had tearful nights, late nights, happy nights, and a whole spectrum of emotions," the parents of 19 children added in their statement. "But through it all, we've felt a profound sense of gratitude for the love that has constantly surrounded us!"
As for how baby Henry fared during Erin's hospitalization? Well, Erin's loved ones rallied together to help care for the newborn. "We've been completely overwhelmed by the love and support of family and friends during this difficult season," Chad wrote on Instagram on September 12, alongside a photo of Henry with what appeared to be a breathing tube in his nose. "From watching the kids and taking them on adventures to helping with baby Henry and lifting Erin up with encouragement—you've carried us in ways we can't even put into words."
