NBA player Jrue Holiday will not be present when the New Orleans Pelicans play their home opener in 2016–17. Rather, he will be beside his spouse, Lauren Holiday.

According to NOLA.com, the Holidays were horrified to learn that Lauren’s right side of the brain had a benign tumor found by medical professionals. The tumor needs to be removed even though it is treatable and poses no risk to the health of their newborn daughter. Lauren, a former soccer player, was approximately six months pregnant when the tumor was discovered.

“My family is my top priority,” 26-year-old Jrue stated to NOLA.com. “Obviously, I consider myself fortunate to be in this situation and to be able to play this game, but my wife is everything to me. She takes precedence over everything else.

He also discussed how their daughter’s impending birth has been impacted by the diagnosis.

“We were and are still incredibly excited about the birth of our first child, but we had to shift our attention from being grateful for this amazing blessing to making sure Lauren and the child are going to be alright,” Jrue said in an interview with NOLA.com. Our top priorities at this time are controlling Lauren’s symptoms and maintaining a reasonably healthy pregnancy.

Although 28-year-old Lauren’s due date is in mid-October, the couple plans to induce birth in order for Lauren’s surgery to happen as soon as feasible, according to NOLA.com. Six weeks after Lauren gives birth, the doctors intend to operate, according to NOLA.com.

In the interview, Jrue stated, “Lauren has her good days and her bad days; some are better than others.” “She’s the toughest woman I know; she’s obviously a fighter.” That is the reason I tied the knot with her.

Additionally, Jrue mentioned how much his team has supported his choice to take a leave of absence.

Jrue remarked, “The Pelicans have been fantastic.” “I didn’t feel under any obligation to pick between my wife and the team or to stay with them. They advised me to get married first. They may not realize how much their assistance means to my family and me.

The couple was married in July 2013 after meeting while they were UCLA student athletes. With the American women’s soccer team’s victories in Beijing and London, Lauren has won two gold medals at the Olympics. According to NOLA.com, she retired last summer in order for her and Jrue to begin a family.

The Pelicans’ general manager Dell Demps sent a statement to NOLA.com expressing the team’s support for the pair.

“We urge Jrue to spend as much time as necessary with his spouse and family before rejoining the Pelicans,” Demps stated, stressing that “we’ll keep doing everything in our power to support and assist them during these trying times.”