<p> ALL SHE EVER WANTED</p><p>Denise and Tom are the picture perfect couple. The only thing wrong with the picture... is the absence of a child.</p><p>Denise (Marcia Cross, “Melrose Place”) suffers from bipolar disorder, a disease treated with the drug lithium, which is known to cause irreversible birth defects. Advised that Denise should never attempt to have a child, they always felt that adoption would fill the spare place in their heartsuntil the red tape got the best of them.</p><p>After several years of rejections and soaring then fallen spirits, Tom conceded to a life without children. Citing how much they have already in each other, the love of her parents Bob and Alma, and their best friend Jessie... perhaps appreciating what you have and getting on with life is the answer. Denise, however, had a different solution.</p><p>Her plan was clear and deliberate. first, stop taking the lithium. Second, get pregnant. Third, have a baby. What she didn’t realize was that the medical consequences of her actions would make it almost impossible for anyone who loved her to support her. Her condition before lithium was so severe, that during a psychotic episode, two men were barely able to restrain her. Now, not only would she be a threat to herself, but to her child as well.</p><p>Despite everyone’s cynicism and concern, her will was strong. With full knowledge that her mind would leave her, that her body would betray her, Denise saw herself as the vehicle to fulfill a lifelong dream. But after several psychotic bouts, and urgent medical warningsTom was having doubts. And for Denise, that meant he doubted their love and their future. Feeling as if she no longer knew her husband, she asked never to see him again.</p><p>While Denise fought to hold on to her conscious self, through violent episodes and delusions about her younger brother’s death, her best friend Jesse was hiring Wesley Knight, a lawyer who would fight for Denise’s rights. With the hospital prepared to abort the baby due to extreme medical circumstances, Knight argues that they must prove Denise to be incompetent before they declare her as such. And now, she must tell the court her story.</p><p>Beyond the blackouts and incoherence lies a woman with hope in her heart, will in her soul, and most importantly, presence in her mind. The question is... what will the eyes of the court see?</p>