Journalist Bret Baier values time with son
Father’s DaySurgery helps child overcome congenital heart disease
HEATHER WARLICK-MOORE
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Published: June 21, 2009
Bret Baier has seen a lot in his career as a journalist: war, politics, scandal. He covered the Pentagon for five years and has traveled to Iraq 13 times and Afghanistan 11 times, experiencing the personal sacrifices of war. Early this year, he replaced Brit Hume on Fox News Channel’s "Special Report.”
But this Father’s Day, Baier will shed his serious news reporter role and reflect on his most treasured role in life: father to his son, Paul Francis Baier. It was almost 2 years ago that Paul stormed into the lives of Bret and Amy Baier. He was their first child, and they were ecstatic. When Paul was born June 29, 2007, doctors said he looked great. "We had one night in the hospital where we were on cloud nine,” Baier said. But soon, the highest of highs would become the lowest of lows. Paul started looking pale, and an echocardiogram showed he had five heart defects. Paul’s blood flowed the wrong way, depriving his body of oxygen. He had a hole in his heart and would not live much longer without open-heart surgery. Within days, surgeons opened Paul’s chest and inserted a minuscule aorta, donated from a baby who had died, to redirect blood in Paul’s tiny heart. The surgeon said it was the most complicated surgery he’d performed. Everything looked good, but Paul was not out of the woods. The donated aorta wouldn’t grow with Paul, so he would face another surgery soon. Today, after another surgery and three angioplasties, Paul amazes his parents with his resilience, energy and life. He faces future surgeries as his heart continues to grow, but Paul is expected to live a healthy life. But the Baiers are not content to breathe a sigh of relief now that their son’s heart is working well. They are on a crusade to bring awareness to congenital heart defects and research. According to the March of Dimes, congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect, affecting one in every 100 babies. "It’s not one out of a million or one out of 5 million. It’s one out of 100. It’s a powerful number that I think needs to be talked about more,” Baier said. That’s why the Baiers have worked tirelessly to raise money for research. He and his wife, along with her parents, Paul and Barbara Hills, recently donated $1 million to Children’s National Medical Center, the Washington, D.C., hospital that saved Paul’s life. And though it’s difficult for the parents to talk about it over and over, they do so in the hope that other families going through similar situations will see that their babies can overcome the same defects. This Father’s Day, Baier has advice for other fathers. as he celebrates his second Father’s Day. "What I would tell any father is to spend more time with your kids and just appreciate that time. Not to be dark, but you really don’t know what happens in life, period,” he said. "We try to focus on today with Paul, which I recommend for any parent. To live in the day, in the moment. Take lots of pictures and lots of video and just appreciate what you have with your child.”
Related Topics:
Health and Fitness, Medicine, Medical Specializations, Medical Treatments and Procedures, Pediatrics, Surgery, Birth Defects, Cardiovascular Medicine
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I want to share that there are several national organizations working together to promote congenital heart defect awareness, as well. At Mended Little Hearts, we believe that when many voices come together, we can make a difference in offering hope, help and healing to patients and families faced with the diagnosis of congenital heart defects and pediatric heart disease. For more information about these awareness efforts contact us at advocacy@mendedlittlehearts.org or visit our website at www.mendedlittlehearts.org