Bret beier teen athlete son had a golf ball-sized aneurysm removed after a 10-hour operation

When Fox News anchor Bret Baier shared the emotional journey behind his teenage son’s emergency open-heart surgery, it was truly hearthbreaking. After what started as a routine cold spiraled into a life-threatening diagnosis.

His 16-year-old son Paul Baier, a varsity tennis and golf standout, underwent his fifth open-heart surgery last year — after doctors in Washington, D.C. discovered a golf ball-sized aneurysm dangerously close to bursting.

“I’m so grateful to have my life,” Paul told People in an exclusive interview. “A lot can change in a matter of five hours.”

A Common Cold That Changed Everything
The family, who split its time between Palm Beach and Washington, initially thought Paul had a simple rhinovirus — just a basic cold. But thanks to the instincts of his mom Amy, who insisted on further tests due to Paul’s history of heart problems, a chest X-ray flagged something unusual.

“The X-ray showed something near the lungs,” Amy recalled. “We sent it to his cardiologist just to be safe.”

That caution likely saved Paul’s life.

From MRI to Major Surgery — in 24 Hours
Back in Washington for what the family assumed would be a routine check-up, Bret and Paul were stunned when doctors dropped the bombshell: the mass was a dangerous aneurysm attached to Paul’s heart.

“If it burst, it could have been fatal in minutes,” Bret said, visibly shaken while recounting the moment.

Despite the terrifying news, Paul stayed calm and collected. “Okay, let’s do what we need to do,” he told his dad.

The night before the surgery, the father-son duo hit the golf course, sharing a bittersweet bonding moment — Paul chipped in a birdie to beat his dad on the final hole. The next morning, he was wheeled into a grueling 10-hour operation.

‘Gratitude Is the Attitude’
The surgery was a success, and doctors believed it would be Paul’s last.

Bret later posted a powerful image online — Paul smiling at Children’s National Hospital, side-by-side with a baby photo taken after his first heart surgery at just a few days old.

Now home and on the mend, Paul faces six weeks of rest and recovery, focused on healthy eating and daily walks before he’s cleared to pick up a tennis racket or golf club again.

“It’s important to be thankful for everything you have, every second of every day,” Paul said — a message his family lives by.

“We have a saying in the Baier family — ‘gratitude is the attitude,’” Amy added. “We learned that from Paul.”

How is Paul feeling now one year from the surgery
Born with five congenital heart defects, Paul has endured over a dozen surgeries — but his strength and mindset are already inspiring others far beyond Fox News circles.

Fans online have praised the Baier family for sharing their story, calling Paul a “real-life warrior” and a reminder to always seek second opinions, even when symptoms seem small.

As of May 2025, there have been no new public updates on Paul Baier, son of Fox News anchor Bret Baier, since his emergency open-heart surgery in 2024. At that time, Paul, then 16, underwent his fifth open-heart procedure to remove a life-threatening aneurysm and is expected to be fine.

Paul’s resilience and positive outlook have been a source of inspiration for his family. His mother, Amy Baier, emphasized the importance of vigilance in health matters, noting that Paul’s aneurysm was detected despite the absence of cardiac symptoms. ​