Bates Family Says Carlin's Baby Is 'Bright Spot' Amid Erin's Health Battle

Carlin Bates’ newborn baby is lifting her family’s spirits amid sister Erin Bates’ health battle.

Gil and Kelly Jo Bates took to their joint Instagram account on Thursday, September 11, to celebrate the birth of their grandchild.

“A little bright spot in our world joined our family & put smiles on all of our faces!” the couple captioned a carousel of photos showing Kelly Jo, 58, posing with Carlin, 27, her husband, Evan Stewart, and their third child in the hospital. Several other Bates family members were pictured as well.

The post continued, “The joys of getting to hold our newest granddaughter is exactly what my heart needed! I’m so grateful to God for a safe delivery for Carlin & baby! Carlin, you’re a super-mom! I’m so proud of you & Evan & your precious family! And she’s absolutely perfect! A tiny angel!”

Carlin announced baby No. 3’s birth via Instagram on Wednesday, September 10.

“The world just got a little softer 🥹 Our baby is here,” she captioned the post.

The arrival of Carlin and Stewart’s daughter — whose name has not yet been announced — comes as Erin, 34, continues to experience complications with her health following the birth of her and husband Chad Paine’s seventh child, Henry, in late August.

“After a long and emotional labor, our miracle arrived. Henry Blythe was born August 25th. 💙,” Paine, 38, wrote via Instagram on August 27. “Henry is doing wonderful, but we would so appreciate your prayers for Erin as she continues to recover from some complications. We thank the Lord for carrying us through and for the gift of this precious boy.”

Paine later revealed that Erin had experienced septic shock after developing a “severe UTI and kidney infection.” Septic shock is the final and most severe stage of sepsis, which occurs “when your immune system has an extreme reaction to an infection,” according to Cleveland Clinic. “The inflammation throughout your body can cause dangerously low blood pressure.”

In an update shared September 1, Paine thanked fans “for all the prayers and support you have given on our behalf” amid Erin’s health scare. “It’s been a week since our miracle, Henry came into the world. He is doing well in the NICU and is our bundle of happiness,” he wrote. “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.”

Paine added that Bates was still in the ICU as doctors continued to “treat, diagnose, and search for answers.”

After revealing on September 4 that Erin had suffered a “severe seizure” and was “half conscious,” Paine shared on Saturday, September 6, that his wife appeared to be on the mend. He later shared that Erin was moved to a new facility as she continued to recover.

Meanwhile, Gil, 60, and Kelly Jo revealed in an update on Wednesday that their daughter’s diagnosis has “changed several times.”

“She’d recover from one thing, just to experience yet another complication,” their Instagram Stories post read. “It’s puzzled the doctors who’ve done a significant amount of testing, so without an exact diagnosis and with her condition changing often, it’s been harder to share [updates].”

The Bringing Up Bates alums added, “We’ve had teary nights, late nights, happy nights and a whole array of emotions. Through it all, we’ve felt a deep gratitude for the love that has constantly surrounded us.”