Bringing Up Bates’ Erin Bates Marks Major Milestone After Sepsis Battle

Erin Bates Paine has never shied away from sharing her faith or her family’s most vulnerable moments. The Bringing Up Bates star — known for her warmth, musical talent, and unwavering devotion to her loved ones — has faced what many would consider an unimaginable ordeal. Just weeks after giving birth to her seventh child, Henry, the 34-year-old mother nearly lost her life when complications after delivery led to septic shock.

But now, one month later, Erin has stunned fans and inspired thousands with an emotional message: she’s walking again.

In an October 2 Instagram post, Erin shared the progress that left her family and fans in tears. “I don’t even have the words,” she wrote. “For weeks, my leg has not worked since my seizure in the hospital. I’ve been carried, wheeled, and helped through tears and prayers — and today it moved. Today, I took steps. They might be a little wobbly, but they are steps I wasn’t sure I’d ever take again.”

It’s the kind of miracle moment that defines her story — one built on faith, perseverance, and the belief that healing, no matter how unlikely, is possible.

A Life-Threatening Ordeal

The frightening episode began shortly after Erin delivered her seventh child with husband Chad Paine in early September. What should have been a joyful time for the couple — who share six other children, Carson, Brooklyn, Everly, Holland, Finley, and William — quickly turned into a medical emergency.

Erin developed an infection that spiraled into sepsis, a condition in which the body’s immune system triggers a dangerous inflammatory response that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and even death. According to the CDC, sepsis affects more than 1.7 million Americans each year, and more than 350,000 of them do not survive.

When Erin’s condition deteriorated, she was rushed to the hospital, where she suffered a seizure and was placed under intensive care. Doctors worked around the clock to stabilize her, while her family and fans around the world prayed for her recovery.

For Erin — who had already faced years of chronic health challenges, including surgeries related to blood clots and fertility complications — this battle pushed her body and spirit to their limits.

Faith in the Fire

Through it all, Erin’s faith remained the cornerstone of her strength. Known for her deeply spiritual outlook, the Tennessee native often shares Bible verses and words of encouragement with her followers. Her social media feed during her hospitalization became a digital sanctuary for those praying alongside her.

“Jesus, you are faithful. You are the healer. All glory belongs to you,” she wrote in her October post.

Those words struck a chord with thousands of fans who have followed the Bringing Up Bates family since their TLC debut in 2015. The Bates clan, led by Gil and Kelly Jo Bates, rose to fame as a large Christian family raising 19 children in rural Tennessee. While the show focused on family values, faith, and humor, Erin quickly became a fan favorite for her honesty, music, and the genuine love she showed her husband and kids.

Her vulnerability in this moment — her willingness to share not just the triumph but the struggle — reminded viewers why they connected with her in the first place.

“Today I Took Steps” — A Moment of Triumph

For weeks, Erin’s mobility was limited. She described being unable to move her leg since her seizure — relying entirely on loved ones and medical professionals to help her through recovery.

“I’ve been carried, wheeled, and helped through tears and prayers,” she wrote. “And today it moved.”

That simple sentence — today it moved — became a rallying cry for her fans. It symbolized not only physical healing but spiritual endurance.

Her words resonated far beyond the Bringing Up Bates community. Comments poured in from fellow moms, faith leaders, and even medical professionals. Many wrote about how Erin’s story reminded them of the power of persistence and gratitude in the face of uncertainty.

One fan wrote: “I’ve been following your journey from day one. This made me cry. God is so good — thank you for sharing your miracle.”

Another commented: “You’re showing the world what faith through fire looks like. We’re all praying for you and celebrating every wobbly step!”

The Role of Family and Faith

Erin’s journey has been one of community — a reminder that healing often takes a village. Her husband, Chad, has been her rock throughout this ordeal, balancing care for Erin and their seven children while supporting her emotionally and spiritually.

Fans familiar with the Paine family’s story know that Erin and Chad’s marriage is built on a foundation of quiet devotion. Married in 2013, they’ve faced both triumphs and heartbreaks together. Erin’s health has often been a challenge: she previously revealed that she underwent multiple surgeries to remove blood clots, which impacted her ability to have more children.

Against those odds, the birth of each child has been celebrated as a miracle. Henry, their seventh, came into the world as a symbol of resilience — and his arrival has now been overshadowed by his mother’s extraordinary fight to survive.

Erin’s message to her supporters reflected that spirit of gratitude. “To those who have prayed and encouraged us, thank you,” she wrote. “You have been a part of this miracle. To the doctors, nurses, and therapists who have poured so much into my recovery, we are forever grateful.”

The Medical Miracle Behind the Recovery

Medical experts note that sepsis-related nerve damage or paralysis can take months — even years — to heal. Erin’s ability to move and walk just weeks after her crisis is extraordinary.

Her seizure likely contributed to temporary neurological impairment, which can impact motor control. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and continuous medical supervision are crucial parts of recovery for sepsis survivors.

Dr. Amanda Lin, an infectious disease specialist not involved in Erin’s case, notes, “For someone to regain leg function after that level of systemic trauma, it’s a testament to both medical intervention and individual willpower. The body and spirit working together — that’s where the miracle happens.”

For Erin, faith and medicine were never in conflict. In her words, they were part of the same story.

A Family’s Gratitude

The Paine family has continued to share glimpses of their life since Erin’s hospitalization — moments filled with both exhaustion and gratitude. Photos show Erin surrounded by her children, their tiny hands resting on her arm as she smiles through tears.

Her husband Chad shared, “Watching her take her first steps again — I don’t think I’ve ever felt joy like that. She’s stronger than anyone I know.”

Their older children — Carson, Brooklyn, and Everly — have also stepped into roles of caretaking and encouragement, often appearing in photos helping their mother during recovery exercises.

For a family that has always preached teamwork and faith, this season of hardship has only deepened those values.

The Outpouring of Support

Fans and faith communities across the country have rallied around Erin. Churches in Tennessee and beyond organized prayer circles. Social media campaigns with hashtags like #PrayForErin and #FaithHeals spread across platforms.

Her followers have shared stories of their own battles with sepsis and chronic illness, creating an online community built on empathy and hope.

One comment summed it up: “Your testimony is helping so many of us who are fighting battles we thought we couldn’t win. You make us believe healing is possible.”

Why Erin’s Story Resonates

Part of what makes Erin Bates’ story so powerful is its universality. While few people experience septic shock firsthand, almost everyone understands fear, uncertainty, and the longing for hope. Her openness about her weakness — being carried, being vulnerable — becomes a reflection of collective human experience.

Erin’s story reminds people that miracles don’t always appear as lightning bolts from heaven. Sometimes, they come as trembling steps across a hospital floor.

Her words — “They might be a little wobbly, but they are steps I wasn’t sure I’d ever take again” — are not just about walking. They’re about moving forward, emotionally and spiritually, when life has knocked you down.

Looking Ahead

As Erin continues her recovery, fans are eager to see her return to the activities she loves — her music, her ministry, and her family life. For now, she is taking it one day, one step at a time.

Her faith remains unshaken, her gratitude stronger than ever. In her own words: “Today, we are standing literally in awe, giving thanks for every single step forward.”

Those steps — once uncertain, now miraculous — are a testament not only to her physical healing but to the resilience of the human spirit.

For Erin Bates Paine, this is not just a recovery story. It’s a declaration of faith, courage, and the quiet strength that turns tragedy into testimony.