Tragic news
Parents Leanne and Steve reel at the doctor’s diagnosis
icking up from last week, Steve, Leanne and her partner Nick are in hospital with Oliver, who’s had a string of alarming seizures. With the little boy in the middle of a seemingly unstoppable fit, he’s sedated for an urgent brain scan and blood tests.
As they wait for information, the co-parents are in bits. Though epilepsy has been discussed, there are other conditions that result in fitting.
PSerious condition
When the doctor consults with Steve and Leanne, he has tragic news. Oliver may have mitochondrial disease, which affects cell function in the body. Although the diagnosis isn’t concrete, the bottom line is that Oliver’s condition is a lot more serious than first thought.
‘They have no idea what mitochondrial is. They do what they’re told not to do and google it. That gives them the absolute worst-case scenario, the black and white of the disease and the bare bones of what will happen to Oliver. It’s devastating, this is the worst possible news,’ says Jane Danson, who plays Leanne.
Keeping vigil at Oliver’s bedside, the adults are on a roller coaster. One minute, Steve is upbeat, the next he is angry, demanding to know if his boy will live or die, and then he’s jokily reminiscing with Leanne. When Nick chimes in, however, his opinion isn’t well received…
‘Nick and Leanne love each other but if something goes wrong, they don’t become closer – they push each other away,’ explains Jane.
As the trio wait for firm news, can they pull together or will they tear each other apart?
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