Chapter 89
The next forty-eight hours were the toughest Kevin and Tyler had ever had to face but they did it together. Once the tests had been run, it was decided that Scott had RSV, a respiratory virus, that threatened to end his life. He was placed in the neo-natal ICU only hours after Kevin first noticed that he was having problems and Kevin and Tyler could only see him for ten minutes every two hours.
Joey was called but he made no attempt to come to Boston to see Scott and AJ, Brian, and Nick flew to New York to the MTV studios to go on TRL. They made the announcement to the fans that the tour would be postponed for the next six weeks and why. Management was very supportive too and reassured Kevin that they could have all the time they needed.
The fans were extremely supportive as well sending tons of flowers and cards. Kevin and Howie along with Tiffany, Sonja, and Kryss, went through the cards and let Tyler see the flowers. Then Kevin would have the flowers sent throughout the hospital to the other patients and the staff too.
Tyler wasn’t holding up very well at all. Her eyes were glazed over from shock and disbelief that this was happening to them. She wouldn’t eat and slept very little. She wouldn’t speak to anyone either, except Kevin and she wouldn’t let him out of her sight.
Kevin was worried about her and when her doctor came in to check on her two days later, Kevin begged her to give Tyler something. "She won’t eat or sleep. Can you please do something for her?"
"I can give her a mild sedative to make her sleep but there’s not much I can do about the eating."
"At least she’ll be rested," said Kevin somewhat relieved.
"I’ll arrange to keep her an extra few days, until you know something about your son."
"Thank you, Doc," said Kevin gratefully. "I know my being here has caused problems with security and all the fans."
"Don’t give it a second thought, Kevin."
Kevin looked at Tyler as a tear escaped making its slow descent down his cheek.
Dr. Edwards put her hand on Kevin’s arm. "Is there anything I can do for YOU?"
Kevin shook his head. "Just take care of my wife. She’s everything to me."
"It’s quite obvious that you love her a great deal."
"More than anything. I’d give my next breath to take this pain from her."
Dr. Edwards gave Tyler a mild sedative and said to Kevin, "She should start to feel the effects soon."
"Thank you again."
After the doctor left, Kevin sat on the bed facing Tyler. He took her hand in his and reached up to brush her hair from her forehead. He spoke softly, "Tadpole, I love you. Please, snap out of it. What can I do?"
The pain in Kevin’s voice broke Tyler’s heart and she leaned her face into the palm of his hand. As her own tears began to fall, she whispered, "You’re doing enough, ‘Boo’."
"I don’t feel like it, baby. I feel so helpless."
"Oh, ‘Boo’! No...I wouldn’t be able to do this without you. Please....I need to feel your arms around me."
Kevin moved so that he could hold Tyler and she snuggled close. With her head on his shoulder and her hand in his, Tyler fell asleep with Kevin holding her.
Howie came by after Tyler had been asleep for a couple hours. "Hey," he whispered. "How is Scott?"
Kevin answered, "Not much change. I asked the nurses to keep me posted.
I don’t want to leave Tyler."
"Trade places with me. I brought you some clothes and something to eat. I’ll
stay with her while you get cleaned up and get some rest."
Kevin looked down. "I don’t know."
"Well, I do. You won’t be much use to her if you wear yourself out."
Reluctantly, Kevin got up letting Howie take Tyler in his arms.
Tyler mumbled, "Kevin?"
Howie whispered, "Shhh...Sunshine...It’s just ‘D’...go back to sleep."
"Where’s Kevin?" she asked groggily.
"He’s going to get cleaned up and some sleep."
Tyler snuggled next to Howie and Kevin looked on. She looked so sweet and so innocent. It was hard to believe she’d been through so much in the last nine months, and it was because of him...for him.
Kevin was so tired that once he lay down after his shower, he fell asleep instantly and slept through the night. Howie continued to hold Tyler close and she woke several times during the night. Each time, he comforted her and she went back to sleep.
The next morning, the third day since Scott had been diagnosed, Kevin went down to see him in ICU. As he walked in, all the nurses looked up at once and gave him a warm welcome. They were excited to see him and he knew it wasn’t because he was a Backstreet Boy.
"Whaz up?" asked Kevin lazily.
Terri, the shift manager, pointed to the nurse who had been assigned to Scott. "Ask her."
Cheryl was standing behind him with Scott in her arms. "I have someone who wants to see you."
"Oh, GOD! Is he okay?" choked out Kevin, his heart in his throat.
"He’s just fine, Kevin. He’s not exactly well enough to go home but we’re moving him out of ICU and into his own room where you and Tyler will be able to stay with him. We’ve already made the arrangements and your wife is going to be released this morning," said Cheryl as she placed Scott in Kevin’s arms.
Looking down at Scott, Kevin whispered, "Hey there, ‘Little Boo’! I know somebody who’s going to be extremely glad to see you."
"Let us get him cleaned up and into his own room."
Kevin kissed Scott and the baby made a face as Kevin’s mustache tickled his skin. It made everyone laugh and then Cheryl took him back so she could get him ready to be moved.
Before Kevin could leave, Terri asked, "Kevin, I have to know. Scott’s not your son but yet, you treat him like he is. Why?"
Kevin smiled, "I may not be his biological father, but I was the one who was at every doctor’s appointment and I was the one who Tyler told first. I love him as if he were my own and I love his mother with all my heart."
Kevin couldn’t contain his excitement and he practically ran back to Tyler’s room only to find her still asleep.
Howie already knew since Dr. Edwards had already been in to release Tyler. He grinned happily. "Did you see him?"
"I held him, ‘D’....GOD...it’s amazing. He looks so small and so helpless."
"Tyler’s free to leave and they said Scott would be in Rm. 611."
A nurse had followed Kevin into the room to help move Tyler but he insisted on carrying her. He carefully gathered her in his arms and Howie wrapped her in a blanket.
Tyler nestled her head against Kevin’s chest and asked sleepily, "What’s going on, Kev?"
"I’m taking you somewhere, baby."
They left quietly with ‘Bull’ and Carlos following them. Tyler was vaguely aware that they were moving through the hospital but she had no idea where they were going. She could barely keep her eyes open.
As they exited the elevator onto the pediatric wing, Tyler heard the sounds of children and she mumbled, "Scott?"
"Shhh, baby. You’ll see him soon."
In the room, the nurses were already there and had Scott cleaned. Kevin set Tyler in the bed and a nurse handed Scott to her. She was still so sleepy from the sedative that the doctor had given her, that she couldn’t open her eyes. She just snuggled next to her son and together, they fell asleep.
Kevin and Howie smiled as Howie said, "Now that’s a picture!"
"Yeah....it is," said Kevin as he made his way around the bed and joined his wife. He spooned next to her wrapping his arms around both of them pulling them close to his chest. "One I want to keep forever."
