Erin Bates Breaks Down Reading Note From Daughter Amid Hospitalization

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Erin Bates Paine is feeling the support from her kids amid her recovery from septic shock.

In a touching moment, the main character of “Bringing Up Bates” reacted with tears upon reading a letter from her 8-year-old daughter, Brooklyn, who has been at home while Erin remains under treatment at the hospital, with Erin’s husband Chad Paine.

I’m sending my best wishes and prayers for you. I can’t wait to meet you soon.” Or, “I’m thinking positively about you, and I hope we can spend time together soon.” The sentiment remains the same, expressing love and anticipation of a future meeting.

In a heartfelt response, the father of seven, evidently touched by his daughter’s words, said, “I’ve been eagerly awaiting every second for you. Even if Mom takes her time, rest assured I will always be here waiting for you.

He then showed Erin that their daughter “drew a happy face and a bow” on the card.

Erin’s husband of 11 years expressed, ‘She told me, “Darling, no matter what befalls us, I will always love you. This is tough on both of us, but there’s a silver lining that you can perceive and may not. God didn’t promise us smooth sailing. But I believe in your strength. I love you.” She signed off as ‘Love, Brooklyn, your daughter.’

And for Chad, sharing Brookyln’s letter was a moment he’d “never want to forget.”

Captioning his video, he said, “Receiving a letter from my daughter, following my lengthy hospital stay, was truly special. It’s more challenging than expected to be apart from our children. Deeply missing their presence and longing for the day we can reunite again.

Instead, Erin’s health condition has significantly improved. As Chad mentioned in his September 6 post, “With tears in our eyes, we are expressing our gratitude to God for leading us towards recovery.

In his latest update regarding Erin’s move to a new hospital, he expressed, “Progress might be slow and challenging, but we are profoundly grateful for each tiny advancement along the way.

For more about the Bates’ family, keep reading.

After the birth of their seventh child Henry on August 25, Erin’s health began to deteriorate. As reported by Chad, who is also the father of Carson (10), Everly (7), Holland (5), Finley (3), and William (22 months) together with Erin, the labor was much longer and more strenuous than in their past deliveries.

Erin fell seriously ill with a urinary tract infection and kidney infection that led to septic shock, as he shared on his September 1 Instagram post.

Erin, 34, was admitted to the ICU, where Chad said she suffered a “severe seizure.”

In his Instagram post on September 4th, he confided that one of the toughest challenges he has ever encountered is to be by her side, watching her fight, while feeling utterly powerless to alleviate her pain. He expressed a love for her that words fail to capture, and admitted he can scarcely imagine life without his beloved companion.

Instead of saying “However, Erin’s health has since took a turn for the better,” you could rephrase it as “Erin’s health condition has been improving lately.” Following Chad’s post on Sept. 6, he expressed his gratitude by stating, “With tears in our eyes, we are praising God that we are moving towards recovery.

He noted in his latest update that Erin’s move to a different hospital marks progress, however small, in her recovery journey. We remain profoundly grateful for each step taken.

For more about the Bates’ family, keep reading.

William Gilvin “Gil” Bates, the wrestling champion of South Carolina, crossed paths with lab assistant Kelly Bates (formerly Callaham) at Anderson University, a Christian liberal arts school in South Carolina, during his chemistry tutoring sessions. In 1987, while both were completing their education at Carson-Newman University in Tennessee, Gil expressed his affections and proposed to Kelly. The couple tied the knot a mere two months later. Initially, they didn’t anticipate having a large family; however, neither embraced birth control. As Gil explained to Dateline in 2011, they decided to leave the number of children to God’s will, initially thinking they might have no more than two or three offspring.

The oldest son, Zachary Bates, was born a year following their wedding, making him the 19th child in the family, with Jeb Bates, also a son, being born in 2012. In regard to reciting the names of their extensive family, Kelly humorously commented about Gil, who operates the excavating company Bates Tree Service, saying, “Daddy’s great at that. His memory surpasses mine.”

Just like his siblings, Zachary (born on December 30, 1988) was educated at home and an avid learner at Bill Gothard’s Institute in Basic Life Principles. His relationship with Sarah Reith was featured on the show “19 Kids and Counting”, but it was Whitney Perkins who won his heart while working at Sonic. They started dating in 2013, and he proposed only two months later, marrying that same year in December. John-David Duggar served as one of the groomsmen. The couple then had sons Bradley (born October 2014) and Jayden (born June 2021), daughters Kaci (born June 2016), Khloé (born November 2019), and Lily Jo (born August 2023).

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

Born on January 23, 1990, thirteen months after her elder brother, Michaela Bates Keilen honed her sewing skills during childhood, creating many of the family’s dresses and managing the laundry. Due to Brandon Keilen not being able to propose until his graduation from bible college, they dated for two years before getting engaged in April 2015.

Following their August wedding, the couple moved to Chicago where they faced challenges establishing a family. Michaela openly shared her fertility issues through blog posts and videos on YouTube. Tragically, they experienced a miscarriage in 2021, but then took on the role of foster parents for two young boys.

Reflecting on my upbringing by my parents, I can’t recall any negative aspects that marred my childhood memories. Instead, I find myself reminiscing about all the positivity and the wonderful moments we shared together. As Erin Bates Pain, who joined the family on May 2, 1991, I am grateful for the rich tapestry of fond recollections that have been etched in my mind.

Instead of having a television, they opted to spend quality time with their father, engaging in activities such as family games or creating memories. Consequently, she feels that they didn’t miss out on anything but rather might have even become smarter due to this choice.

Ever since I tied the knot with Charles “Chad” Stephen Paine III in 2013, we’ve been yearning for a large family of our own. A blood clotting disorder caused multiple miscarriages before we 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. Despite thinking that our family-building days were over, we were given the incredible opportunity to grow our brood with William in October 2023 and Henry in August 2025. However, Erin encountered some complications during Henry’s delivery, as Chad shared on Instagram, “We would so appreciate your prayers for Erin as she continues to recover from these complications.”

Lawson Bates, a young businessman who launched his lawn-care service, Lawson’s Lawncare, at the tender age of 13, was rumored to be connected to Jana Duggar due to his comments on her Instagram posts. However, he later announced his engagement to Tiffany Espensen, following a romantic proposal during an October 2021 trip to Italy. In an interview with People, the singer-songwriter expressed his joy, stating, “Discovering Tiffany’s character, her interests, and her aspirations has been the most delightful experience of my life. Over the past year, we have created many beautiful memories together.

In May 2022, the couple got married on a yacht near San Diego. Unfortunately, they had a miscarriage shortly after, but in July 2024, they were blessed with a son named William. Not long after, they shared the news that another baby was expected just nine months later.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’d like to share an intriguing journey. Born on August 29, 1993, Nathan Bates, affectionately known as Kenneth Nathaniel “Nathan”, stepped into my world. His life story unfolds on the reality show, Bringing Up Bates. While he shared his romantic journey with Ashley Salyer initially, fate led him to propose to Esther Keyes in May 2021. Their wedding followed in October of the same year, and they exchanged their first kiss at the altar, much like many of his siblings had before them. A year later, they welcomed their daughter, Kenna, into their family. In October 2024, they were blessed with a son named Graham. From aspiring to become a preacher in his youth, Nathan has dedicated his life to serving others through various mission trips and working as a first responder.

Alyssa Bates Webster, born on November 9, 1994, was the family’s administrative assistant, shopper for clothes, and a skilled cook of many meals. During her work with Florida Congressman Daniel Webster’s campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives, she crossed paths with his son, John Webster. They got engaged in January 2014, celebrating their betrothal at Orlando’s Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, and tied the knot that May. The Florida-residing couple became parents to daughter Alli in April 2015, Lexi in January 2017, Zoey in March 2018, Maci in February 2021, and son Rhett in March 2023.

Tori Bates Smith was born on December 20, 1995, 12 months after her older sister. In 2016, she started dating Bobby Smith, a relationship that was showcased on their family’s reality series. They got married shortly after getting engaged in December 2017. An alumna of Crown College of the Bible’s elementary education program, Tori and Bobby had their first child, Robert IV, in November 2018. They were followed by Kolter in May 2020, Charlotte in June 2021, Cambree in August 2022, and Weston in May 2024.

As a die-hard admirer, let me tell you about my favorite guy, Trace Bates – the harvester of white fields who graced this world on February 1, 1997. His life took an exciting turn when he found himself in the spotlight during a televised romance with Chaney Kahle. However, it was through his sister Josie Bates Balka that he met his future wife, Lydia Romeike.

With their hearts skipping beats like March flowers, they announced their engagement on YouTube, where Trace shared his heartfelt thoughts, “I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Lydia is my best friend and the most positive force in my life.” Their wedding in October 2022 was a grand affair, attended by 350 guests, including Jason Duggar who acted as an usher.

A year later, in October 2023, we welcomed little Ryker into our family. And then came the most beautiful rainbow after the storm – Kaia, who made her entrance into our world in June 2025. Together, we are a family, growing stronger with each passing day.

Carlin Bates Stewart, born on April 11, 1998, completed high school alongside her brother Trace after attending dual enrollment at a local college. Her sister Erin introduced her to Evan Stewart, and they announced their engagement in September 2018. The couple married the following May, with Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth serving as a bridesmaid. Their first child, daughter Layla, was born in January 2020, a moment captured on the show Bringing Up Bates. In March 2022, they welcomed their son Zade, and in February 2025, they announced the upcoming arrival of their third child.

Gil and Kelly welcomed their tenth child on August 4, 1999. She later became friends with her future spouse, Kelton Balka, after a chance encounter at a piano recital in 2014. However, they didn’t start dating until 2017. In June 2018, Kelton proposed to Kelly in a public setting which was captured on camera, and they got married in October of the same year under camera watch. Their first child, Willow, was born in July 2019, followed by Hazel in June 2021. Miles came into the family in February 2024, and the couple announced they were expecting another child in April 2025.

On October 5, 2000, Katie Bates Clark was given the name that translates to “pure grace.” In a 2019 Facebook Live event, she shared news of her romantic relationship with Travis Clark, and they announced their engagement at an oceanside location in April 2021. The couple tied the knot in December of the same year and welcomed their daughter Hailey into the world in February 2023. A son named Harvey joined the family in September 2024. Holding a cosmetology license from The Crown College, Katie has worked as a stylist for her sister Josie’s company, Effortless Beauty, and served as a model for Bates Sisters Boutique.

Among the group often referred to as the three musketeers, which includes Warden Bates, Isaiah Bates, and Jackson Bates, it was Jackson who was born on February 17, 2002. He encountered his future spouse, Emerson Wells, at a rodeo in Florida and publicly announced their engagement in March 2023. Their wedding took place in October of the same year, with Jason Duggar serving as one of the groomsmen. In July 2025, they were blessed with a son named David.

Known affectionately as “Tigger” because of his lively personality, Warden (born May 19, 2003) has a passion for sports and singing. Balancing work has been no problem for him, as he’s worked alongside both his father’s excavating company and brother-in-law Chad’s Paine Construction.

On October 16, 2004, the third musketeer made his arrival. This individual, a graduate of Crown College with a one-year certificate in Bible Studies for Foundations of Christian Life (expected graduation year 2023), established his own lawn care business in 2022. He works concurrently for both his father and brother-in-law Chad.

After being born on Feb. 17, 2006, Addalee Bates faced breathing difficulties and hearing issues as a result of being prematurely born. To honor the second chance she was given at life, her parents extended her name with additional letters. In 2025, she successfully finished her one-year bible study program.

As someone who radiates strength and illumination, I’m Ellie Bates, stepping into the spotlight on April 28, 2007. Frequently found gracing the lens in fashion shoots for the Bates Sisters Boutique, I embody a vibrant and dynamic style that echoes the spirit of my name.

Among Gil and Kelly’s daughters, it was Callie-Anna Bates who arrived on August 2, 2009, making her the youngest. As per Kelly’s post on Instagram in August 2020, she is described as the “most lively” within their family, with people being magnetically attracted to her!

Ever since Jud Bates arrived on September 15, 2010, he’s been blossoming at an astonishing pace, as Kelly noted in her Instagram post from December 2020. Despite encountering some hurdles along the way, he’s experienced two falls that resulted in broken right collarbones – one during a football game and another while riding his electric bike.

In completion of their family, Jeb Bates entered the world on February 1, 2012. Initially needing special care, he spent some time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). As reported to People at the time, Gil couldn’t help but feel as excited and nervous as if it were their very first child, despite being their 19th addition to the family.

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2025-09-10 21:48