Bringing Up Bates alum Erin Bates’ children are hopeful for her continued recovery after a battle with septic shock.
“When you get a letter from your little girl after being in the hospital for weeks,” Bates’ husband, Chad Paine, captioned a Wednesday, September 10, Instagram video of himself reading Bates, 34, a note from 9-year-old daughter Brooklyn while she slept in a hospital bed.
Brooklyn wrote in a handwritten letter that she is “praying for” her mom’s recovery.
“I’m praying for you, and I hope I can see you so soon,” Paine, 38, read. “I love you, and I know you love me back. I wish I could see you now. I’ve been waiting every second — one, two, three — for you.”
He continued, “Well, Mom, I know however long you stay there, I’ll be right here waiting on you. … Mom, I will love you whatever happens, and it’s hard for me and you, but there is a good thing that you can see and cannot see. God never said it was going to be OK, but I know you can do this. I love you.”
Paine broke down in tears as he showed Bates that Brooklyn also drew an illustration of her mom holding baby Henry, who was born in August.
“Be strong for them,” Paine whispered to Bates, planting a kiss on her cheek.
Bates, in response, tearfully added that she “misses” her children.
“I miss them too,” her husband replied.
In the post’s caption, Paine noted that the couple “never want to forget” Brooklyn’s heartfelt letter.
“Being away from our babies has been harder than we ever imagined,” the caption read. “Our hearts ache to be together again.”
Bates was hospitalized last month after a severe UTI and kidney infection turned into septic shock. (According to the Cleveland Clinic, sepsis is a serious infection that can cause organ failure, tissue damage or even death.)
“She is currently still in the ICU as doctors continue to treat, diagnose and search for answers,” Paine wrote via Instagram on September 1. “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.”
Three days later, Bates suffered a severe seizure before eventually slowly regaining her strength.
“With tears in our eyes, we are praising the Lord that we are on the road to recovery,” Paine wrote via Instagram on Saturday, September 6. “Your prayers have definitely touched heaven.”
Bates has since been transferred to another medical facility for further treatment.