The Only Way Is Essex star Jordan Brook has shared a fresh health update after a harrowing ordeal. The 31-year-old was rushed to hospital as an emergency with an undiagnosed condition before undergoing extensive tests, with medics revealing he had developed both meningitis and encephalitis.
During the illness, Jordan lost the ability to walk and speak as the virus affected his brain. He needed a wheelchair and suffered "acute memory loss" alongside numerous other complications. He was discharged following a 22-day hospital admission, though his recovery is still ongoing.
Worried about being strong enough for his son
Jordan, who recently became a father for the first time with girlfriend Sophie Kasaei, opened up during the first episode of the new TOWIE series, broadcast on 2 August. Speaking to Harry, Diags and Will, he admitted he had been plagued by uncertainty, while acknowledging the feelings were part of his rehabilitation.
"I'm worried I'm not going to be strong enough for my boy," he said.
Harry responded: "I totally get it and understand you want to be there for Sophie and be ready for the baby to come and be the dad you've always dreamed of being. But you have got to put yourself first. Do not pressure yourself into getting better because you don't wanna make yourself worse."
Sophie breaks down over Jordan's health
Sophie became visibly emotional as she told Livvy and Becks that Jordan "isn't the same" after his battle with meningitis. She recalled their plans before he fell ill.
"We were going to the Maldives. I had maternity shoots, 3D scans, we were doing the room up, and we were in the biggest bubble. So I went to the hospital days later and looked at him on the bed, and he couldn't even look me in the eyes. He was just like asleep."
She added: "He was non-verbal cos his brain was swelling at such a rapid rate, so it was putting pressure on the brain and on his skull."
Sophie, who was pregnant at the time of filming, described staying by his bedside from 9am until 10pm each day because she "just wanted to be in his presence". She revealed she had prayed constantly for his return.
Becoming tearful, she said: "But it's not the same. He's not the same. He's got scarring on his brain. The front part of his brain is scarred, and his moods will be really up and down. And he'll be really emotional, and he'll get quite forgetful, and he's obviously got like a limp now, so he can't really do much."
Sophie concluded: "I don't think we would have got through it without this little boy inside. I think that's what kept him strong."
How to watch
The Only Way Is Essex is available to stream on ITVX.
