Chapter
21
Kevin talked to management that afternoon, and they had scheduled a
press conference for the next day to announce the news of Brian's health and
the postponing of the rest of the tour.
Brian was not looking forward to the press conference. He didn't want
to have to answer questions about his health and listen to people discuss him.
At least the first time, he had been to sick to attend. And at the most recent
press conference, he had just gone into remission, so there was nothing bad to
talk about. But this was different.
The press conference was at 2:00 in the afternoon. Brian and the guys
arrived at 1:30, escorted by bodyguards. They were led into the large
conference room and sat in chairs in a row behind a counter.
The conference started promptly at 2:00. Kevin began to speak first.
"We have called a press conference today to announce that the rest
of the concerts on our current tour are being postponed until further
notice," he began. The crowd began to murmur. Hands shot up immediately.
Kevin called on a woman in the front.
"Why?" she asked.
"As you know, Brian Littrell was recently diagnosed with cancer.
He was in remission before, but just two days ago, we found out that he has a
tumor in his lung." There was more murmuring. Howie called on a man in the
back of the room.
"Brian, is this true?" the man asked.
"Yes," said Brian solemnly.
"When will Brian be able to perform again?" another man
asked.
"We don't know right now," Kevin answered.
"Is this tumor life-threatening?" a woman wanted to know. The
Boys exchanged glances. Kevin nodded towards Brian, signaling him to speak.
"Well, right now, my doctors are trying to shrink it using radiation.
Then they can operate on it and remove it," Brian said.
They answered a few more questions and then decided to call it quits.
They said good-bye and were escorted out of the room.
***
