Fox News anchor Bret Baier announced that his 13-year-old will undergo his fourth open-heart surgery in December.
Baier spoke with USA Today and Entertainment Tonight in part about his oldest son Paul, who had his first open-heart surgery just days after being born. Paul was born with five congenital heart defects, according to Baier, who added that his last surgery was just one month ago.
“It’s not gonna be easy,” Baier, who is also covering the 2020 election on Tuesday, told USA Today. “As I’m getting ready for the election, I’m kind of getting ready mentally, physically to handle the details of our Super Bowl. It’s people in your ear: ‘We’re gonna call Ohio. We’re gonna call Florida.’ All these different things happening. But, in the back of my mind is the next big Super Bowl that we have in our family health. And it’ll take some getting ready for.”
Baier also called his son “a warrior” and said the family is “very fortunate to be at Children’s National,” which is located in Washington, D.C. Amy, Baier’s wife, chairs the Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the Fox News anchor called her “the one that holds us together.”
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Baier discussed his friendship with comedian Jimmy Kimmel, whose son also has a heart defect. Baier said he “felt for him because” the two have gone through similar situations.
I felt for him because I knew exactly what he was going through during those tough times and it’s emotional,” Baier said during an Entertainment Tonight interview. “I wish him and his son well.” (RELATED: Bret Baier Shares Details Of Car Accident)
The Fox News anchor added that he’s hopeful this upcoming surgery will be his son’s last one.
“I keep an upbeat attitude because I just know that there’s some kids that are – have it worse than me. And I just want to be thankful to all those nurses and doctors for saving my life,” Paul told Entertainment Tonight.