Fox News anchor Bret Baier and his wife faced every parent’s worst nightmare when their son, Paul, underwent his fifth open-heart surgery in 2024. Now 17, Paul is sharing his story in a new podcast titled One Step at a Time, offering a personal look into his battle with congenital heart defects.

Born on June 29, 2007, Paul had his first heart surgery as an infant, followed by additional procedures at 10 months, age 6, 13, and again at 16. The latest operation came unexpectedly after a routine illness revealed a life-threatening aneurysm near his heart. “It was exponentially more stressful and emergent,” Bret said, recalling how quickly things escalated. Doctors feared the aneurysm might rupture, which could have been fatal within minutes.

Thankfully, Paul pulled through the emergency surgery and has since recovered without complications. “The recovery was awesome,” Bret said, praising the team at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. While Paul may still face minor procedures like angioplasties, Bret hopes his days of open-heart surgeries are over.

Despite missing school due to his health challenges, Paul completed his junior year and is now exploring college options. Bret emphasizes their desire for Paul to live a normal teenage life — driving, playing sports, and spending time with friends. “Seventeen years ago, we would be really, really happy to be right here,” he said.

Reflecting on their journey, Bret added, “Everybody has something they’re dealing with in their family. This was our something.” Paul’s resilience now serves as an inspiration for others facing similar medical challenges.