Brian Littrell: Family Man
Former Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell and his wife, Leighanne, were confronted with the horror of an unknown disease, as their 6-year-old son, Baylee, broke out in a full-body rash in early December, with blisters in his throat and a 103-degree fever.
After numerous tests and three misdiagnoses, the couple asked doctors to perform an echocardiogram, which showed damage to Baylee's coronary arteries. It was determined that Baylee suffered from atypical Kawasaki disease. He's been released from Atlanta's Scottish Rite Children's Hospital after receiving treatment, and now Brian and Leighanne are reaching out to other parents. "If you feel like something is wrong, follow our instinct," says Leighanne, who talks to OK! about the fight for her son's life.
OK!: What advice would you give other parents? Doctors don't know everything. They would never run an echocardiogram unless we insisted. We'd like to set up a fund for children who need extra medical testing, when insurance won't cover it. I hope our experience can help another family.
Brian is Kevin's cousin. They both grew up in Lexington, Kentucky. Brian was the 5'th member to join BSB. Brian wrote the song "That's what She Said". And has also co-wrote many other songs. Brian says that he needs to "eat healthier and start taking better care of myself". Brian has been known to be a fingernail biter and he loves fast food. His resolution one year was to stop biting his fingernails and he says that he has stuck with it. In the spring of 1998, Brian underwent elective surgery to correct a minor congenital heart disorder. The surgery was relatively simple and Brian came through with flying colours.
He got married to actress Leighanne Wallance on September 2nd, 2000. Leighanne had been in the BSB's As Long As You Love Me and All I Have To Give music videos. The wedding was well attended by 300 of their friends and family. For the honeymoon, they went to a private property on a island in the Caribbean. They want to have kids someday, but for now their focus is on their careers.
