*1 Month Later*

“Come on. We have to go! Your doctor’s appointment is at 1!”, Haley yelled up the stairs at Brian. He had his yearly heart checkup. Kameron had came by and picked up Tyler. She was going to baby-sit him while Brian and Haley went to the doctor. “Okay. I’m coming!”, Brian said coming down the stairs. “You ready?”, Haley asked grabbing her purse. “Yeah. I always hate going to the heart doctor though.”, Brian said locking up the door behind him. “Don’t worry about it honey. You are in great shape. You have to be the way you chase Tyler all the time.” Brian laughed. “I guess you’re right.”

*At the doctor’s office*

They had run the normal tests they always did on Brian’s heart. They were waiting in the exam room for the doctor to return. “I hate waiting for doctors.”, he said leaning back on the table. “And you always said I was the impatient one!” The doctor walked in with a look of disappointment on his face. “How do I look doctor?” “I’m afraid I have bad news Brian.” He grabbed Haley’s hand. “What is it?”, Brian said his voice growing softer and softer with each word. “Well Brian. It looks as if the hole in your heart is expanding greatly. It is causing your heart to work over time to pump extra blood to compensate for the hole. Because of that, your heart is enlarging. I’d say within 2 months, you will have the heart size of a 300 pound linebacker if we don’t operate.” “Operate? I have to have an operation?”, Brian asked very scared. Haley gripped onto his hand. “I’m afraid so Brian.” “When do you suggest we operate?”, Haley asked, speaking for the first time since the doctor had sprung the news. “If it can be arranged, and both of you consent to this, I would like to do it next week.”, the doctor explained sitting down on his rolling stool. Brian looked up at Haley and she nodded at him with encouragement. “Okay doctor. Let’s do what we have to do.”, he said taking a deep breath.