Erin Bates’ Parents Detail Changing Diagnoses That “Puzzled” Doctors

by

Erin Bates Paine‘s parents are speaking out amid her hospitalization.

Two weeks following the hospitalization of Bringing Up Bates alum, who gave birth to her and husband Chad Paine’s seventh child Henry, Gil Bates and Kelly Bates have shared that these past few days have been a whirlwind or hazy period for them.

On Instagram Stories on September 10, they shared that due to Erin’s diagnosis fluctuating frequently, they have found it challenging to provide updates. As she recovers from one issue only to face another complication, the medical professionals involved have been left perplexed, having conducted extensive tests without yet arriving at a definitive diagnosis. Given the unpredictable nature of Erin’s condition and the absence of a clear diagnosis, sharing information has proven to be challenging.

Despite the challenging circumstances they find themselves in, the parents of nineteen children expressed their gratitude for the thoughtful messages received during these unpredictable times.

Our evenings have been filled with tears, were often late, but also joyful, and encompassed a wide range of feelings. As stated by Gil and Kelly, these experiences were accompanied by a profound sense of appreciation for the unwavering love we’ve felt throughout this journey.

Absolutely, they’ve experienced quite a roller coaster of feelings recently. While Erin was in the hospital, their daughter Carlin Bates welcomed a new addition to their family – a baby girl – with her husband Evan Stewart.

Overflowing with joy, I can’t help but exclaim that a ray of sunshine has graced our household! On September 11th, Kelly proudly announced this delightful news on Instagram, accompanied by heartwarming images of our family visiting the little one in the hospital. The indescribable pleasure of cradling our brand-new granddaughter has revitalized my spirit just when I needed it most!

The matriarch expressed her gratitude, stating, “What a little heavenly being! I’m truly thankful to God for a smooth delivery of Carlin and the new addition.

And for Erin’s husband Chad, the past few weeks have also been a chapter full of ups and downs.

He posted on Instagram on September 9th: “Recovery isn’t quick or simple, but every little progress makes us incredibly grateful.” Witnessing Erin go through such suffering has been heart-wrenching, but watching her raise her voice in praise to the Lord amidst it all has been nothing less than inspiring.

For a closer look at the Bates’ expansive family tree, keep reading…

As an ardent fan, let me share a fascinating story about William Gilvin “Gil” Bates, the South Carolina state wrestling champion, who crossed paths with the remarkable Kelly Bates (née Callaham) during their studies at Anderson University. You see, she was assigned to tutor Gil in Chemistry, and well, as they say, the rest is history! Fast forward to October 1987, while they were wrapping up their studies at Carson-Newman University in Tennessee, Gil mustered the courage to pop the question. Two months later, they exchanged vows, not envisioning the extensive family they would soon be blessed with. They weren’t advocates for birth control, rather choosing to leave the number of children they’d have in God’s hands, assuming they’d top out at two or three. However, as Gil confessed to Dateline in 2011, their family ended up being much larger than expected!

The eldest son, Zachary Bates, was born a year following their wedding; their 19th child and second son, Jeb Bates, arrived in 2012. When it comes to reciting the names of their extensive family, Kelly playfully noted that Gil, who owns an excavating company called Bates Tree Service, is particularly skilled at this task because his memory outperforms hers.

Zachary, born on December 30, 1988, was educated at home like his siblings and was a committed student of Bill Gothard’s Institute in Basic Life Principles. His romantic journey with Sarah Reith was documented on “19 Kids and Counting,” but it was Whitney Perkins who won his affection while working together at Sonic Drive-In. Two months after they started dating in 2013, he proposed, and they married that same year. John-David Duggar served as one of the groomsmen at their wedding. The couple later welcomed sons Bradley (in October 2014), Jayden (in June 2021), Kaci (in June 2016), Khloé (in November 2019), and Lily Jo (in August 2023).

Beyond his role in the family tree business, Zachary has also taken on various roles such as a police officer, a county commissioner, and a realtor.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but share my admiration for Michaela Bates Keilen! Born on January 23, 1990, a sweet 13 months after her brother, she had quite the head start. You see, from an early age, she discovered her knack for sewing and transformed our family wardrobe with her magical stitches. Not only did she craft most of our dresses, but she also took charge of laundry duties!

Now, let’s talk about her love story. Brandon Keilen was the one, but things didn’t move as fast as they would have liked. You see, he had his own journey to embark on-completing Bible college. But once that hurdle was crossed, they couldn’t keep their distance any longer! They spent a heartwarming two years courting each other before Brandon finally popped the question in April 2015. I just love this sweet tale of patience and love!

Following their wedding in August, the couple moved to Chicago, where they faced challenges in starting a family. Michaela publicly documented her fertility issues through blog posts and videos on YouTube. Heartbreakingly, in 2021, they experienced a miscarriage. However, they stepped forward to become foster parents for two young boys instead.

Reflecting on my upbringing by my parents, I can’t recall any negative experiences, Erin Bates Pain shared with People. In fact, everything seems to have been very positive, and we created many wonderful memories together. (Erin Bates Pain joined the family on May 2, 1991)

She explained that, although they didn’t own a television, they made up for it by spending quality time with Dad during playtime. Alternatively, they enjoyed family games or created lasting memories together. Thus, she felt they didn’t miss out on anything and might even have become smarter due to this lack of television.

After tying the knot with Charles “Chad” Stephen Paine III in 2013, they yearned for a large family. However, due to a blood clotting disorder, multiple miscarriages occurred before they were blessed with Carson in May 2015, followed by Brooklyn in August 2016, Everly in May 2018, Holland in November 2019, and Finley in January 2022. Surprisingly, despite initial doubts about having more children, they expanded their family with William in October 2023 and Henry in August 2025. Following Henry’s birth, Chad shared on Instagram that Erin had experienced complications, specifically septic shock, and requested prayers for her recovery.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, let me share a fascinating tale about Lawson Bates, a dynamic entrepreneur who launched his own lawn-mowing venture, Lawson’s Lawncare, at the tender age of 13. Born on July 27, 1992, this remarkable individual found himself linked to Jana Duggar following a few interactions on her Instagram posts. However, love found him elsewhere when he announced his engagement to Tiffany Espensen after proposing during an enchanting Italian getaway in October 2021. “Discovering Tiffany – her heart, her aspirations, and her dreams – has been the most exhilarating joy of my life,” shared this talented singer-songwriter with People magazine at that time, “and we have been creating a multitude of beautiful memories together over the past year.

In May 2022, the couple got married on a yacht near San Diego’s coast. Tragically, they had a miscarriage before their son William was born in July 2024. Just under a year later, they announced they were expecting another child.

Nathan Bates, affectionately known as Kenneth Nathaniel “Nathan”, became part of our family on August 29, 1993. While his romantic journey with Ashley Salyer was showcased on ‘Bringing Up Bates’, he later got engaged to Esther Keyes in May 2021. Their wedding took place in October of the same year, where their first kiss at the altar mirrored many of his siblings’ experiences. A year after their marriage, they were blessed with a daughter named Kenna. Their family expanded further with the arrival of son Graham in October 2024. With a youthful desire to become a preacher, Nathan has served on various mission trips and works as a first responder.

Alyssa Bates Webster, born on November 9, 1994, played multiple roles in her family – she was the family’s secretary, shopper for clothes, and often prepared meals. During her work on Florida Congressman Daniel Webster’s campaign for the U.S House of Representatives, she met his son John Webster. After getting engaged in January 2014 (they marked their engagement at Orlando’s Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse), they got married in May. The couple living in Florida had daughter Alli in April 2015, Lexi in January 2017, Zoey in March 2018, Maci in February 2021, and son Rhett in March 2023.

12 months after her elder sister’s birth on December 20, 1995, Tori Bates Smith came into the world. In 2016, she started dating Bobby Smith, a relationship showcased in their family’s reality series. They got married shortly after their engagement in December 2017. The couple graduated from Crown College of the Bible with an elementary education degree, and welcomed their first child, Robert IV, in November 2018. This was followed by the births of sons Kolter in May 2020, Weston in May 2024, daughters Charlotte in June 2021, and Cambree in August 2022.

On February 1, 1997, Trace Bates, whose name translates to “harvester of white fields,” made his appearance. After a public courtship on television with Chaney Kahle, he was introduced to his future spouse Lydia Romeike through his sister Josie Bates Balka. They announced their engagement in March 2022 on YouTube (“Lydia is my best friend and the most positive force in my life,” he explained). The couple tied the knot in October of the same year in a ceremony attended by 350 guests, among whom was Jason Duggar, who served as an usher. Their son Ryker was born in October 2023. In June 2025, they were blessed with their rainbow baby, daughter Kaia.

On April 11, 1998, Carlin Bates Stewart completed high school simultaneously with her brother Trace, having taken dual enrollment at a local college. It was Carlin’s sister Erin who introduced her to Evan Stewart, and the couple announced their engagement in September 2018. They got married the following May, with Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth serving as a bridesmaid. In January 2020, they became parents to daughter Layla, which was showcased on the television series Bringing Up Bates. Their first son, Zade, arrived in March 2022. The couple announced the birth of their third child in September 2025.

On August 4, 1999, Gil and Kelly welcomed their tenth child. She later became friends with her future husband, Kelton Balka, after a chance encounter at a piano recital in 2014. However, it wasn’t until 2017 that they started dating. Their engagement took place in June 2018, and their wedding was filmed for all to see, taking place in October of the same year. In July 2019, they welcomed their first child, Willow, followed by Hazel in June 2021. Miles was born in February 2024, and in April 2025, the couple announced they were expecting another addition to their family.

On October 5th, 2000, Katie Bates Clark was given the name that symbolizes pure elegance. In a 2019 Facebook Live session, she shared her romantic involvement with Travis Clark, detailing their oceanfront engagement in April 2021. They got married in December of the same year and welcomed their daughter Hailey in February 2023, followed by their son Harvey in September 2024. Armed with a cosmetology license from The Crown College, she has been styling hair at her sister Josie’s company, Effortless Beauty, and modeling for Bates Sisters Boutique.

Born on February 17, 2002, Jackson Bates, one of the trio often referred to as the three musketeers alongside Warden Bates and Isaiah Bates, found his future wife, Emerson Wells, at a Florida rodeo. Their engagement was announced in March 2023, and they were married later that year in October, with Jason Duggar serving as a groomsman. In July 2025, the couple welcomed their first child, named David.

Affectionately known as “Tigger” because of his lively disposition, Warden (born May 19, 2003) has a passion for sports and singing. He’s managed to balance his responsibilities between his father’s excavation company and his brother-in-law Chad’s construction business.

On October 16, 2004, the third musketeer made an appearance. Already working alongside his father and brother-in-law Chad, this graduate from Crown College (where he received a one-year Bible Certificate for Foundations of Christian Life in 2023) launched his own lawn care enterprise in 2022.

After being born on Feb. 17, 2006, Addalee Bates faced breathing difficulties due to premature birth and needed hearing aids. Her parents extended her name with additional letters as a reminder of her miraculous life chance. In 2025, she successfully finished a one-year bible program.

Ellie Bates, whose name signifies a powerful radiance, became part of the team on April 28, 2007. Frequently, she’s featured in photoshoots for Bates Sisters Boutique.

Born on Aug. 2, 2009, the youngest daughter among Gil and Kelly’s girls is Callie-Anna Bates. As Kelly described her on Instagram in August 2020, she is the most lively one, with an irresistible charm that attracts people just like a magnet!

Ever since Jud Bates arrived on September 15, 2010, he’s been growing at an astonishing pace, as Kelly shared in a December 2020 Instagram post. Despite encountering some difficulties along the way, including two breaks of his right collarbone – one during a football game and another while riding his e-bike.

As a devoted admirer, let me share my heartfelt tale about our cherished addition, Jeb Bates. This wonderful soul entered our world on February 1, 2012, and like a precious gem, he spent some time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). I can still recall the palpable excitement and anticipation I felt when Gil shared with People magazine that despite being our nineteenth child, my nerves were as raw and fervent as they were on our very first birth. The love for a new family member is truly ageless and boundless!

Read More

2025-09-12 04:48