Erin Bates Faces Severe Leg Complications During Septic Shock Crisis

Bringing Up Bates star Erin Bates says she is unable to use her right leg in the wake of her health battle with septic shock.

A post on the Instagram account the reality star, 34, shares with her husband Chad, 38, indicated that she was still dealing with significant health woes after developing a UTI and kidney infection in the week after she gave birth to their seventh child August 25.

‘After almost three weeks in the hospital, I have never been so thankful to finally head home to our babies,’ said Erin, who had been rushed to the intensive care unit after suffering septic shock.

The Tennessee native continued: ‘We don’t have all the answers yet, and I still don’t have function in my right leg, but we are choosing to count every blessing – especially the gift of being together again.’

The update came after Bates’ fans had been sharing their fears for her health after Chad went silent on social media after providing regular updates on Erin’s health woes. 

The spiritual stars wrapped up the post in saying, ‘Your prayers have carried us through and mean the world to our family.’

They added a number of upbeat hashtags to the end of the post, including #HealingJourney, #TogetherAgain, #BlessedBeyondMeasure, #GodIsFaithful, #MiracleMoments and #StrengthInFaith.

In an adjacent photo, Chad was seen pushing his spouse in a wheelchair as she doted on their newborn. 

According to her husband, the reality star had developed the life-threatening condition after developing a ‘severe UTI and kidney infection’ in the week after she gave birth to their seventh child, a son named Henry.

Chad most recently boosted fans’ hopes when he posted an update on Saturday with a video of Erin cuddling their baby son in her hospital bed while he wrote that she was ‘on the road to recovery.’

But Chad has since offered no additional updates about his wife’s condition, leading fans to fear that she may have taken a turn for the worst.

Although Erin’s husband didn’t offer any subsequent updates on her health, fans noticed that some of her siblings had posted on social media about going to visit them, which also sparked alarm.

In Chad’s post from the weekend, Erin cradled baby Henry in her arms while lying in her hospital bed and hooked up to an IV and various monitoring devices. 

She also had on a beige cap that covered tape or bandages on her head.

The reality star kissed her baby son on the nose, eliciting what looked like a brief smile from him. Erin — who had ‘suffered a lengthy and severe seizure’ earlier this month — appeared to shudder briefly while holding Henry.

‘With tears in our eyes, we are praising the Lord that we are on the road to recovery. ❤️‍🩹 Your prayers have definitely touched heaven. 🙏,’ Chad captioned the clip.

On Reddit, Bringing Up Bates fans noted that Erin’s brother Lawson Bates and his family had posted on social media about going to visit her.

‘Caught the red-eye to Florida 🙏,’ Lawson captioned a Facebook post showing him holding his toddler son Will as they prepared to step aboard an airplane. ‘Please say a prayer for my sister Erin!’

Lawson’s wife Tiffany subsequently posted to her Instagram Stories a photo of herself with one of Erin and Chad’s daughters, as well as another photo of Will in a stroller.

‘He’s so happy to be with his cousins. He’s like the happiest baby ever,’ she wrote.

Fans also noted that Erin’s sister Michaela had joined her after she was featured in an Instagram photo showing her holding baby Henry.

Although all of the posts from Erin’s siblings were upbeat, and they didn’t indicate anything other than siblings visiting family after the birth of a baby.

However, several fans discussing the posts worried they indicate a negative turn in Erin’s condition, and the original poster wrote, ‘Did something change this evening with Erin’s condition?’ 

‘I wonder if that means she’s worse off now,’ read one of the replies.

Another fan added: ‘How is Erin and baby Henry doing this Monday morning? We’re all anxious for an update.’

However, others were happy to see the Bates family joining together after Erin’s health crisis, and several fans saluted Lawson for supporting his sister and her family in her time of need. 

Chad previously shared an emotional update on Thursday, September 4.

The latest news comes amid a terrifying medical complication which saw Erin admitted to the ICU after giving birth to her seventh child on August 25.

‘I have so many mixed emotions as I share this,’ Chad, 38, said on Instagram Thursday evening. ‘Last night, Erin suffered a lengthy and severe seizure.

‘Up to this point, Erin’s infection was getting better, but we found ourselves back in a place of heartache, uncertainty, and tears.’

Chad said Erin remains ‘in the ICU, and the doctors are running scans and tests to determine the cause’ of her health downturn – and that she remains ‘extremely weak and spent hours only half conscious.’

He added, ‘As her husband, it is one of the hardest things I’ve ever faced – to sit by her side and watch her struggle while being so helpless to ease her suffering.’

He continued: ‘I love her more deeply than words can express, and I can’t even imagine life without my best friend.’ 

Chad said that ‘the hours have been long and heavy’ amid the difficult time – and that he understood he was not alone in the storm.

‘I know many hearts are aching to see her this way, along with mine,’ Chad said. ‘We hold on to faith that healing is coming, even in the midst of the unknown.

‘Your prayers are felt and we are forever grateful.’

A comment from The Bates Family’s verified account added further detail about Erin’s recovery.

It read, ‘She really is a light here! Every nurse adores her and though she’s in pain, she’s still a ray of sunshine.’

The thread adjacent to the images was populated with a number of caring and sensitive comments and prayers for Chad during the family crisis.

A comment from the Modern Farmhouse Family account read: ‘Dear Jesus be near to Erin! Please be working in the unseen of her body, from the inside out to bring healing! Your healing!

‘Thank you for all those tending to her and their wisdom, give them even more wisdom as they search the answers! We cover the whole family with the name of Jesus!’

The family wrapped up in saying, ‘In your name, Amen!’

After revealing that Erin had gone through a ‘long and emotional labor’ to bring Henry into the world, her husband, Chad initially returned to social media earlier this week and shared that her condition is serious.

‘We wanted to thank each and every one of you for all the prayers and support you have given on our behalf. It’s been a week since our miracle, Henry came into the world,’ he said, adding, ‘ He is doing well in the NICU and is our bundle of happiness.’

‘We had asked for prayer for recovery for Erin due to complications. Her labor was longer and more intense than previous births. 

‘She has been fighting through it and has been such a light and sweet testimony of grace to nurses, staff, and doctors alike. We are all moved by her kindness and gratefulness in the midst of pain.’

Revealing the source of the complications, he wrote, ‘Erin developed a severe UTI and kidney infection, which sent her into septic shock. She is currently still in the ICU as doctors continue to treat, diagnose, and search for answers. 

‘We would covet your prayers for this beautiful girl who is such a light in a dark world. We are holding onto God’s promises. Chad.’

Septic shock is a rare but dangerous condition, occurring after .03-percent to .04-percent of deliveries. 

However, a report from the CDC in 2024 indicated that these kinds of complications were on the rise and urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common causes. 

Infections and sepsis are the second leading cause of maternal deaths in the US. 

Bates and Paine are also parents to Charles Steven IV, 10, Brooklyn Elise, eight, Everly Hope, seven, Holland Grace, five, Finley Marie, three, and William Gage, 20 months.

In 2015, just before giving birth to their oldest child, the couple revealed to People that Bates had suffered several miscarriages due to a blood-clotting issue. 

Fans who saw Paine’s call to prayer quickly answered. ‘Praying that infection would leave her body in the name of Jesus!! 

‘I pray for complete healing over her and for sweet baby Henry in the NICU,’ wrote one.

‘The whole Roman household going on our knees to intercede for prayer on your families behalf! 

‘The Lord show his loving kindness and compassion and mercy over your family! Amen.’

Others suggested that perhaps the couple consider whether it would be wise to have any more children. 

‘I say this with love, it’s time to consider not having any more babies. This is your body’s way of telling you that you need to rest now,’ wrote one person.

‘Maybe, this is a sign her body has had enough pregnancies. So scary. May God keep giving her strength,’ added another. 

Bates is best known as one of 19 children featured on the reality show Bringing Up Bates and its previous incarnation United Bates of America.

She and Paine, who shared their first kiss at the altar, married in November 2013.

At the time, she was 23. Shortly after walking down the aisle, the pair revealed they were expecting. Sadly, the couple learned that their baby had stopped developing early on and Erin had to undergo a dilation and curettage (D&C).

They named their miscarried child Angel Paine. Erin endured two suffered two more devastating miscarriages after that. 

‘Going through a miscarriage is one of the hardest things. You build up all these expectations, and you prepare, and you have the date in your mind, and it’s just heartbreaking when that ends. It’s like your world’s been crushed,’ she said, at the time. 

She continued: ‘When you go through something difficult, it just makes you all the more strong and it makes you look to each other for comfort. It made us look to the other people who had gone through difficult situations and really, hopefully, encouraged them through it, as well.’ 

In 2021, Erin revealed she had three surgeries due to cysts rupturing and causing internal bleeding. 

As a result, she had to have one ovary removed and most the other one as well. 

‘It has been scary and really discouraging at times, but we have been so grateful for the medical doctors who have helped us navigate through these uncertainties. God has held our hands through it, and has given us a peace and strength that we cannot explain,’ she wrote on Instagram.

She also praised her husband for pampering her and waiting on her ‘hand and foot all day’ as she recovered. 

‘He has been so patient and caring, and he’s not too shabby as a cook, and for sure better than me at laundry, dishes, and mopping,’ the mother-of-seven added. ‘His daily love notes have made me cry and smile at the same time, and nothing is sweeter than hearing the kids belly laugh as he chases them through the house for hours.’

A year later, the reality star had her gallbladder removed. 

She and her husband have their own company making designing scripture cards, stationary and stickers, along with skincare made with beef tallow and CDs featuring Bates singing hymns and other religious songs. 

Bates and her husband also run a popular YouTube channel, which has 147K subscribers, where they document their home life and share recipes. 

In July, Erin answered questions about her homeschool techniques and offered an update on her pregnancy. 

At the time, she confirmed they had selected a baby name because she was ‘not patient enough to wait until the baby’s born.’ 

‘Our boy’s name is, drum roll, Henry Ble!’ she gushed. ‘If it was going to be [a girl], Harper Anne with an “E”, of course.’

She added: ‘We can’t wait. It feels like it’s going to be coming up soon and then some days it feels like it’s forever away.’