Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) decided to postpone her and Imran Habeeb’s (Charlie de Melo) fostering dream in Coronation Street amid Oliver’s devastating diagnosis, but there’s more heartache ahead for her.
Toyah and Imran were delighted at the prospect of becoming foster parents — something which was revealed to the viewers in an episode broadcast last week.
They had a meeting on the matter, and it went incredibly well, but they later received word from Leanne (Jane Danson) that Oliver had been diagnosed with mitochondrial disease.
What is mitochondrial disease?
Mitochondrial diseases result from failures of the mitochondria, specialized compartments present in every cell of the body (except red blood cells).
Mitochondria are responsible for creating more than 90% of the energy needed by the body to sustain life and support organ function. When they fail, less and less energy is generated within the cell. Cell injury and even cell death follow. If this process is repeated throughout the body, whole organ systems begin to fail.
The parts of the body, such as the heart, brain, muscles and lungs, requiring the greatest amounts of energy are the most affected.
Symptoms vary depending on the organ(s) affected but may include seizures, atypical cerebral palsy, autistic features, developmental problems, fainting and temperature instability.
According to The Lily Foundation, the prognosis depends upon the severity of the disease and other criteria. As more research funds are raised to find more effective treatments and ultimately a cure, some of the affected children and adults are living fairly normal lives with mitochondrial disease.
In other cases, children may not be able to see, hear, talk or walk. Affected children may not survive beyond their teenage years. Adult onset can result in drastic changes from an active lifestyle to a debilitating ilness is a short amount of time.
Treatment plans vary from patient to patient but involve therapies, diet changes and other means to try and slow the progress of the disease.
As a result, Toyah decided that their plans needed to be put on hold, but it became apparent that Imran wasn’t on the same page.
In tonight’s episode, he suggests that Toyah test the waters with Leanne on the matter, before deciding to postpone their fostering dream all together.
Toyah’s not so sure, but it would seem as if she ultimately agrees to his suggestion.
Later, she pays a visit to see Leanne, and as they discuss matters, it becomes apparent that Leanne is utterly distraught.
Therefore, Toyah decides that she simply cannot raise the subject of fostering.
Is this the end of her and Imran’s dream?
Or will she perhaps try and speak to Leanne at a later stage?
Coronation Street continues Wednesday 1 July at 7:30pm on ITV.
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