Fox News anchor Bret Baier’s son, Paul, 16, recently underwent his fifth open-heart surgery.
The events leading to Paul’s emergency surgery began quietly. While residing in Palm Beach, Florida, a frequent home for the Baier family aside from their Washington, D.C. base, Paul contracted what seemed to be a typical cold. Amy Baier, concerned for her son who has a history of heart complications, sought medical advice as a precaution.
Initially diagnosed with rhinovirus by their physician, a routine suspicion for someone displaying cold symptoms, Paul was advised to have a chest X-ray due to his extensive medical history. Born with five congenital heart defects, Paul’s life has been marked by a series of medical challenges, requiring more than a dozen surgeries, including his initial open-heart surgery as a newborn followed by additional procedures at 10 months, six years, and 13 years of age.
In a heartfelt expression of gratitude shared with PEOPLE, Paul reflected on his journey, stating, “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.”
Bret Baier’s son Paul via PEOPLE
Brett’s wife, Amy, explained, “Dr. Stein, was very thorough and before