Maria suffers a miscarriage
TRAGEDY STRIKES FOR HER AND GARY…
Pregnant Maria endures every expectant mother’s worst nightmare this week, when doctors break the news that she has suffered a miscarriage.
Maria insists Gary goes on their planned trip to Bristol without her when she starts to feel unwell. But by the time he returns to Weatherfield, she has lost their baby…
“Just as Maria and Gary appear to have ridden the storm of Christmas, they are dealt this devastating blow and left completely heartbroken,” explains our cobbles insider. “Having a family with Maria seemed an opportunity for Gary to finally put an end to his criminal activities. And for Maria, settling down with a man who loves her and son Liam is everything she has always dreamed of. Their happy-ever-after is so brutally ripped away from them.”
Both Gary and Maria know what it’s like to lose a child, with Gary’s ex Izzy suffering a miscarriage in 2012, and Maria giving birth to a still-born baby boy 11 years ago with husband Liam Connor.
So when Maria starts to feel dizzy and notices that she is bleeding, she is understandably terrified. Her ex, Doctor Ali, insists on driving Maria to the hospital for an emergency scan, and it’s then that the sonographer gives them the news. However, only after Ali takes stock of Maria’s other symptoms, and realises that she has contracted measles, is the cause of her miscarriage finally identified.
“Maria blames herself and opens up to Ali about her history – explaining she can’t deal with losing another child,” shares our spy. “Meanwhile, excited Gary is on his way home, oblivious that he’s returning to a world of pain.”
Gary tries to comfort Maria as she tortures herself about the fact she wasn’t immunised against measles as a child. However, when Audrey reveals that baby
Bertie is in hospital with the disease – and Maria learns Daniel didn’t complete his son’s course of jabs – she and Gary are livid.
Gary finds Daniel and goes berserk, blaming him for Maria losing their baby. His outburst helps to vent his frustrations in the short-term, but Gary and Maria still face the harrowing task of coping with their loss.
“This is make-or-break for Gary and Maria, and will force them to pull their relationship into sharp focus,” reckons our mole. “Are they committed to having a future together, or was the baby the only reason they’ve come as far as they have? Time will tell as to whether they are the real deal.”
After learning about some of his crimes and misdemeanours, it seems Maria has accepted Gary for who he is – but there is still the small matter of loan shark Rick Neelan’s body, which Gary has buried in the woods.
Our intuition tells us 2020 will be very eventful for the couple…
“Maria can’t cope with losing another child…”