EastEnders has aired a heartbreaking turn for Denise Fox as she battles acute myeloid leukaemia, an aggressive and fast-growing type of blood cancer. The salon owner was diagnosed with the disease in May, and tragically, the cancer has proven resistant to chemotherapy treatment and has taken its toll on Denise both physically and mentally. Doctors have informed Denise that a stem cell transplant is her best chance for survival.
Donor drive in Walford
During Monday's trip to Walford (August 24), the race is on to find Denise (Diane Parish) a stem cell match with Yolande Trueman (Angela Wynter) organising a donor drive and encouraging every resident to get tested. Elsewhere, Kim Fox (Tameka Empson) and family friend Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker) scoured ancestry websites in hopes of finding a match.
Condition worsens
Back at the hospital, there was more bad news as Denise’s condition took a horrifying turn for the worse when she struggled to breathe, leaving her partner, Jack Branning (Jack Maslen), in a panic. "You're very unwell", the doctor explained to Denise before delivering a heartbreaking update. Denise's chest infection has developed into sepsis, and she needs to be put on a ventilator and into a medically induced coma to save her life.
"So you will have a tube going down into your trachea, and that means that we need to put you into a medically induced coma," the doctor explained to a scared Denise. Denise and Jack only had moments to say an emotional goodbye, with her young son, Raymond, also trying to comfort his mum. She demanded a devastated Jack promise to tell her family that she loves them before losing consciousness.
Potential donor found
Later, Jack returned to the Square, where Kim confirmed she had found a potential donor for Denise: she has a long-lost half-brother named Darnell Larson Jr. (Christopher Colquhoun). Will Darnell be a match?
EastEnders fans have been left devastated as Denise fights for her life, with one viewer stating: "Poor Denise #EastEnders," followed by a heartbroken emoji. A second added: "Seeing Denise like this is painful #EastEnders", while a third added: "WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS TO DENISE", followed by a string of crying emojis.
"I was not ready for this episode ahhh Denise man #eastenders", added one fan as another confessed: "I bussed a few tears today whilst watching #Eastenders. Aunty Denise pls I can't take it." "Being this emotional on a Monday morning is not ok, my heart genuinely breaks for Denise #EastEnders," explained another viewer.
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday on BBC One and iPlayer.
