On August 4, 2025, Fox News anchor Bret Baier celebrated his 55th birthday in a way that few other milestones could match—a day filled with pure joy, surrounded by family, friends, and the resounding echo of hope for his eldest son, Paul. The veteran journalist, known for his steady presence on Special Report with Bret Baier, marked the occasion with a heart full of gratitude, buoyed by the latest encouraging news about Paul’s ongoing battle with congenital heart disease. For the Baier family, this birthday was more than a personal milestone; it was a celebration of resilience, faith, and the medical miracles that have defined Paul’s journey.

A Family’s Unwavering Strength

Paul Baier, now 17, was born with five congenital heart defects, a diagnosis that turned Bret and Amy Baier’s world upside down just 24 hours after their son’s birth on June 29, 2007. What began as a moment of bliss—welcoming their firstborn—quickly became a harrowing ordeal when a nurse noticed Paul’s pale complexion and rapid breathing, leading to the discovery of his complex heart condition. As Bret recounted in an interview with PEOPLE, “His heart was essentially pumping the wrong way, and we didn’t know before birth.” The prognosis was daunting: without immediate, complex surgery, Paul’s survival was uncertain.

Over the past 17 years, Paul has undergone five open-heart surgeries and over a dozen procedures, including angioplasties, to manage his condition. His first surgery, performed just 12 days after birth at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., was described by Dr. Richard Jonas, chief of cardiovascular surgery, as one of the most challenging of his career. Yet, Paul’s spirit and the expertise of his medical team have carried him through. Today, he stands tall at nearly 6’4”, a varsity golfer, a straight-A student, and a beacon of hope for his family and others facing similar challenges.

The latest chapter in Paul’s health journey unfolded in April 2024, when what seemed like a routine cold led to the discovery of a golf ball-sized aneurysm in his heart. Amy Baier, ever vigilant due to Paul’s medical history, took him to a doctor in Palm Beach, Florida, where the family resides when not in Washington, D.C. Dr. Stein, the physician, ordered a precautionary chest X-ray, which revealed an abnormality. An MRI confirmed the severity: an aneurysm that could have been fatal within minutes if it had ruptured. Emergency open-heart surgery followed, Paul’s fifth, and doctors successfully removed the aneurysm, expressing optimism that this could be his final major procedure.

A Birthday Illuminated by Gratitude

Bret’s 55th birthday was a moment to reflect on this remarkable journey. The celebration, held at the family’s home, was a blend of intimate family moments and heartfelt messages from colleagues, friends, and viewers who have followed Paul’s story through Bret’s public updates and his 2014 memoir, Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage, and Love. The book, with all proceeds donated to pediatric heart research, chronicles the family’s emotional and medical odyssey, emphasizing their reliance on faith, community, and cutting-edge medical care.

As Bret shared on X in April 2024, “Tonight, @AmyBaier1 and I want to thank the staff @ChildrensNatl for once again saving our son Paul’s life.” The post included side-by-side photos of Paul as a newborn, post his first surgery, and as a teenager, smiling in the hospital after his latest procedure. The images captured the arc of a life defined by courage and survival, a theme that resonated deeply on Bret’s birthday.

Paul, now a high school junior, has not only recovered but thrived. “The recovery was awesome,” Bret told PEOPLE in June 2025. “The doctors and nurses at Children’s National were fantastic, as always.” Paul has returned to his passions—golf and tennis—and is looking ahead to college, embodying the family’s motto: “Gratitude is the attitude.” This mindset, inspired by Paul’s resilience, was palpable during Bret’s birthday celebration. Amy noted, “We learned that from Paul. It’s much easier when you focus on all the things you’re grateful for, rather than what is difficult.”

A Legacy of Advocacy

The Baier family’s journey has extended beyond their personal triumph. Bret and Amy have become tireless advocates for congenital heart disease awareness, serving on the Children’s Hospital Foundation Board and co-chairing the 2014 Children’s Ball, which set fundraising records. Their work has helped fund research and initiatives like a simple pulse oximetry test to detect heart defects in newborns, a measure they hope will become universal to prevent undiagnosed cases. “A lot of babies are sent home with undetected congenital heart defects,” Bret told Atlanta Magazine. “We’d like to make this simple test something everybody does.”

Paul’s story has also inspired others. In August 2025, he launched a podcast, One Step at a Time, where he interviews guests about their challenges and triumphs, drawing from his own experiences. “I’ve had five open-heart surgeries and 10 angioplasties,” Paul shared in the podcast’s introduction. “Doctors and nurses have always taught me just keep walking. It’s vital for recovery.” The podcast reflects his desire to connect with others facing their own “something”—a challenge that shapes their lives. Bret, proud of his son’s initiative, shared a clip of the podcast on X, noting the outpouring of support from the community and responding to critics who questioned their access to care. “Every surgery, we were in the waiting room with many families with no insurance or very little income, and @ChildrensNatl provided the exact same care,” he wrote.

A Day of Celebration and Reflection

Bret’s 55th birthday was a tapestry of joy and reflection. The family gathered with close friends, including colleagues from Fox News, where Bret has been a mainstay since joining in 1998. His career, which began as an intern at WSB-TV in Atlanta and included launching Fox’s Atlanta bureau, has seen him rise to chief political anchor, hosting Special Report and moderating high-profile events like the 2020 presidential debates. Yet, on this day, professional accolades took a backseat to personal milestones. The Baier home was filled with laughter, shared stories, and the warmth of a family that has faced the unimaginable together.

Paul, joined by his younger brother Daniel, now 14, brought an infectious energy to the celebration. The brothers, described by Bret as best friends, share a bond strengthened by adversity. Daniel, who endured the stress of Paul’s surgeries, was a constant presence via Zoom during the 2024 hospital stay, and on Bret’s birthday, he was there in person, playfully sparring with his older brother as siblings do. The family’s recent trip to the 2025 Masters golf tournament, a shared passion, was a highlight, with Paul’s varsity golf skills on display. “Bottom line is, we want him to be a normal kid,” Bret told PEOPLE, a goal Paul has embraced with vigor.

The birthday festivities included a nod to Paul’s resilience. Guests toasted to his health, with Bret and Amy sharing anecdotes of his courage, like the time he chipped a birdie to beat his dad on the golf course the day before his 2024 surgery. “He thought I was joking at first, then he absorbed it and said, ‘Okay, let’s do what we need to do,’” Bret recalled of Paul’s reaction to the aneurysm news. That stoicism, paired with his optimism, set the tone for the day.

A Community of Support

The outpouring of support from viewers, colleagues, and strangers touched by Paul’s story added depth to the celebration. Messages flooded Bret’s X account, with one commenter noting, “We have a little friend waiting on his heart transplant, he has had 3 heart surgeries and he is only 5. We pray every day for CJ.” Bret’s openness about Paul’s journey, from his TODAY show appearances to his book, has built a community of families facing similar battles. “It’s a powerful thing,” Bret told TODAY in 2015. “We hope to make awareness about what people can do to get through it.”

The Baier family’s faith has been a cornerstone of their resilience. Bret, a Catholic, and Amy have leaned on prayer through each surgery. Amy recalled a vivid moment during Paul’s first surgery: “I saw this vision of these beams of light all around Paul’s surgical bed, and I just knew in my heart he was going to be okay.” That faith, coupled with the expertise at Children’s National, has carried them through. On Bret’s birthday, gratitude for this support was evident, with toasts to the medical staff who have become an extended family.

Looking Ahead

As Bret enters his 55th year, the future is bright. Paul’s prognosis is optimistic, with doctors suggesting he may only need minor procedures, like angioplasties, moving forward. “Knock on wood, that’s the end of the open-heart surgeries,” Bret told PEOPLE. Paul is focused on college plans, his podcast, and returning to the golf course, while Bret continues his high-stakes work, including interviews with global leaders like President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2025. His upcoming book, To Rescue the American Spirit: Teddy Roosevelt and the Birth of a Superpower, set for release on October 21, 2025, reflects his passion for history and storytelling.

The Baier family’s journey is a testament to the power of love, faith, and medicine. Bret’s 55th birthday was not just a celebration of another year but a tribute to Paul’s indomitable spirit and the community that has rallied around them. As Amy put it, “I feel like God tapped us for a reason, and we have a great responsibility in that.” For Bret, Amy, Paul, and Daniel, this birthday was a reminder that every step forward is a victory, and gratitude, indeed, is the attitude that lights their path.