The cancer battle continues
Mrs J suffers a major setback in her recovery program.
Suidooster Mon-Thu kykNET (*144) 18:30
Ruiterbosch’s favourite mother hen Mrs J (Theresa Sedras) was discharged from hospital following her leukaemia treatment in December 2017 and early January 2018 but she hasn’t won her war just yet. On Thursday 1 February, she collapses and is rushed back to hospital. This is bad news, especially after she’d been having a run of good luck of late. Her bond with Pastor Ronald (Ivan Abrahams) blossomed into romance but he is called back to his congregation in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday 31 January. “They have become incredibly close,” explains Theresa. “Their shared values and beliefs have made their attraction more intense.”
FAMILY DOCTOR
Pastor Ronald is Mrs J’s doctor Siya’s (Gantane Kusch) grandfather and the good doctor has been keeping an eagle eye on his patient, even letting her go on one last outing with her beau before Pastor Ronald leaves on Wednesday 31 January. Ivan adds that “Ronald doesn’t want to go but he has to. Mrs J also doesn’t want him to leave and as soon as he drops Mrs J off at the October house, she is overwhelmed and collapses. She’s re-admitted on Thursday 1 February and Dr Siya conducts tests to find out what happened. And it’s not good news – thanks to some creative TV speeding up, Mrs J’s test results are ready that same Thursday 1 February and she needs a bone marrow transplant. Siya phones his granddad, who drops his church for his ladylove. “He can’t leave her in the lurch this time,” says Ivan. “He loves her and needs to be there for her in her hour of need no matter what anyone says.”
THE BLAME GAME
In the meantime, Mrs J’s daughter Bridgette (Denise Newman) blames herself on Monday 5 February for her mother’s setback. She feels that she could have done more to help her mom take it easy after she was discharged the first time. She feels guilty because she was preoccupied with disapproving of her mom and Ronald’s’ relationship to help her. “Luckily Ronald doesn’t hold a grudge,” says Ivan. “Instead, he offers Bridgette words of encouragement that lift her spirit up.” And they will all be praying on Tuesday 13 February when Mrs J is wheeled into theatre for her procedure. “Ronald gives Mrs J hope that she’ll get better,” explains Theresa. “He tells her that he will be waiting at her side when she wakes up.” The worry on everyone’s faces tells a different story though…