A tearful

on Tuesday testified he paid more than $15,000 for his wife to receive a plastic surgery procedure on her stomach, explaining how she nearly died during child birth several years ago and developed a severe hernia as a result of a Cesarean section.

The former Mayor of Detroit said his insurance would not cover a procedure to repair the damage.

"I wanted to make her feel beautiful. That's what that was."

The testimony came as Kilpatrick answered questions from his attorney after days of grilling from prosecutors in a hearing on his restitution payments to the City of Detroit, a condition of his 2008 plea deal on charges of obstruction of justice and assault.

he wrote a series of cashier's checks on April 9 to the Plastic Surgery Center of Dallas and an anesthesiologist.

That, just weeks after his attorney on March 24 filed a motion to reduce his monthly restitution payments from $6,000 to $3,000 a month.

"As far as my wife is concerned, 'Whatever you want, I'll do it,'" Kilpatrick testified Tuesday, later clarifying the request must be within reason.

While he discussed housing options with Carlita as the family prepared to move to Texas, Kilpatrick said he only recently learned of the final lease price she negotiated on their 5,886-square-foot house.

"At that time, I didn't care how much a miracle cost," he said. "It was a miracle for me to even be in that home."

"I embarrassed her. I cheated on her. I lied to her. I put her through hell."

Kilpatrick still owes Detroit about around $980,000 in restitution.

For move coverage of the hearing,

or our

.