Love Saved Brian's Life
Date:October 4, 2001
source:'4U',
it's a Norwegian teen mag
***Please note that this is a quick translation from Norwegian to Englsish, meaning that there will be grammar and spelling mistakes***
Brian Littrell and his wife Leighanne fell in love at first sight, but a lasting relationship have not been easy. Here Leighanne tells how a born with whole in the heart almost killed Brian and how she almost had to break up with him to save him...
Brian Littrell and Leighanne Wallace got married last autumn infront of a alot of friends and family, but the truth is that Leighanne almost cancelled the wedding!
Like most people know, Brian was born with a hole in his heart, and he refused for a long time to get operated. It was first when Leighanne set an ultimatum and left Brian, that he gave in.
-Either you let yourslef be operated, or you'll lose both me and your health, said Leighanne when Brian was going out on a new worldtour with the Backstreet Boys.
-I love Brian so much, that to know that he's risking his life everyday, almost ripped me apart, tells Leighanne.
-He had already postponed the operation that could make him healthy twice - to tour instead. It could have gotten fatal consequences! I couldn't live with the uncertanty, to know that he could die from me. I had decided to leave him, if he wouldn't let the doctors repair the hole in the heart...
I love you...
When Brian finally decided to go through with the operation, was both family, friends and fans relived. Brian hadn't understood how many it was that had been worried about his health.
After the operation a very week Brian was taken into a private room. He was so weak that he couldn't say a word, but he managed to get enough power to say 'I love you' in signlanguage.
-It's the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me ever, reminds Leighanne.
During the first concerts he was in after the operation, it was standing oxygentanks backstage.
-He had to have the oxygen ready, in case he got trouble breathing, tells Leighanne.
-Brian has an incredible huge scar over the chest that reminds him everyday how lucky he is to hae gotten a new chance in life...
Threaths from fans
Leighanne says that she'll never forget Brian's proposal:
-It was the day after Christmas [Dec. 25, I can't remeber what it's called in Engslish, lol] and minus grades outside [great English, I know... ]. He insisted that we should out on a picnic. He said he had a suprise, and took a blindfold over my eyes. Suddenly he went down on one knee and asked me if I wanted to marry him. I don't remeber much of what happened right after, but I have to have said Yes...!
Like the romantic Brian is, he had in advance gotten 'permission' from her parents to propose. Brian had gotten into his mind that eerything should be done in the right order!
Millions of Backstreet Boys were shocked over the news that Bria nwas going to get married. His cousin, Kevin Richardson, annonced about the same time that he also was going to marry the girlfriend he had had in many years.
Leighanne remembers alittle bittersweet:
Most were very positive to that we'd gotten engaged, and those are the ones that is the true fans. But I've also gotten my share of threats from crazy fans. They either want me to die or leave Brian. I know they would have react the same way no matter who Brian had gotten engaged to, but still it hurts to get so much hate mail. But I want to than everyone who has sent encouraging words to me and Brian, it has been good to get so much support. Most have been fantastic!
She first said no!
Brian and Leighanne met under the video shoot for As Long As You Love Me in 1997. At the time Leighanne didn't know anything about Backstreet Boys. She had never heard any of their songs.
-I was convinced that I was sent on a video job for a gay club that should make a workout video. It was a club nearby that was called Backstreet, and it was where all the gays came together - and it was there I though I was going! But when I came in the door and saw Brian I knew he was the man in my life. And Brian decided quickly that he was going on a date with her!
But Leighanne had decided to make it alittle difficult for him, and when he asked if they could go out that night, she thnaked no and said that she had other plans. But when when Brian quickly asked for a date the next day instead, couldn't Leighanne do anything else but say yes:
-We ate dinner found out that we went really good together!
Not children yet
Leigahnne and Brian have bought a small property in the state Georgia, where Leighanne grew up. But the busy scheduals does that they have little time together now.
Brian is either touring or in the studio, while Leighanne for the most part can be found on some movieset where she's filming movies or TV-series.
-I have a dream to set up a soundstudio at out home, s othat me and Brian can record music together, says Leighanne.
But there is no danger in that Brian will leave Backstreet Boys. This is something that Leighanne dreams about that they can do in their spare time.
Brians dreams goes in a little different direction than Leighannes. He really wants to start a family as fast as possible. It is Leighanne that holds back.
-If Brian got it his way, we'd had a bunch of kids right after the wedding. Bu I hold back because I want time alone with Brian first. I can picture that we have kids in a couple of years. People have told me that marriage changes everything, and I really want time to get usd to one situation at the time.
Then she adds:
-But Brian and I have been through so much together, that I doubt that anthing in this world can seperate us!