Fox News anchor Bret Baier has revealed that his 17-year-old son Paul has successfully undergone his fifth open heart surgery, a harrowing experience that nearly turned into every parent’s worst nightmare.
Paul, who was born with congenital heart defects, has faced a long road of health challenges since his birth on June 29, 2007 — beginning with his first surgery as an infant, followed by operations at 10 months, 6 years, 13 years, and now at 17.
“His heart was essentially pumping the wrong way,” Baier explained in a deeply personal interview with People. “And we didn’t know before birth.”
A Sudden and Frightening Diagnosis
Doctors initially believed Paul wouldn’t need another heart surgery until his 20s, but in 2024, a routine visit for a common cold led to a devastating discovery: a golf ball-sized aneurysm had formed near his heart.
“They didn’t know whether it might burst,” Baier said. “But if it did, it might have been fatal in a matter of minutes.”
Surgery Success and Recovery
Thankfully, Paul came through the high-stakes procedure without complications. Baier praised the staff at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.:
“The recovery was awesome… the doctors and nurses were fantastic.”
Baier added that Paul has developed a remarkable mindset, pushing through surgeries and recovery with strength and resilience:
“He just plows through it now. And I think, knock on wood, that’s the end of the open-heart surgeries.”
Future procedures may include angioplasties, but Baier emphasized they’re “exponentially less” intense than open-heart surgery.
Back to Life — and Looking Ahead
Despite missing substantial school time, Paul completed his junior year and is now exploring college options.
“Bottom line is, we want him to be a normal kid,” Baier said. “Seventeen years ago, we would be really, really happy to be right here — after that first surgery as a baby.”
Now, Paul enjoys life like any other teenager: driving, playing sports, and even tormenting his younger brother, Baier joked.
Baier on Family, Faith, and Perspective
Between interviews with world leaders and anchoring Special Report, Baier admits downtime is rare — but says family moments, like taking Paul to a golf tournament, are precious beyond words.
“Everybody has something they’re dealing with in their family. This was our something.”
A Message of Hope
For parents facing similar medical battles, Baier’s story is one of hope, faith, and gratitude. It’s a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming odds, with the right care and unwavering love, normal life is still possible.
