Emmerdale’s Marlon Dingle has been struggling in the wake of his horror stroke on the ITV soap.
While doctors have removed the blood cut in Marlon's brain that caused his stroke, they have explained to April, Rhona and Mary that he faces a long road ahead.
Paddy and Rhona have both since been struggling with how they can best support Marlon, as he bristles with the new physical challenges he faces.
ITV viewers watched as Marlon, played by Mark Charnock, was left deeply frustrated at the hospital during his speech therapy session, as he had trouble forming simple words.
As Rhona, played by Zoë Henry, looked on at Marlon's slower-than-expected progress, she tried to encourage him a bit too forcefully, leading to his nurse asking her to ease off the pressure.
This whole experience left Rhona at her lowest point and she later headed back to the hospital to apologise, but as Mary questioned whether Rhona had been piling too much pressure on herself, Marlon made the heartbreaking decision to ban all visitors.
ITV spoilers have now revealed that next week on the soap will see the newly engaged couple continue to adjust to their new normal amid Rhona’s birthday.
April is determined to make the day a special one and successfully pulls off a surprise birthday party for Rhona in the Woolpack.
But Rhona knows she promised to visit Marlon, so Chas volunteers Cain to take her place so she can enjoy the party for April’s sake.
After a while, Rhona is eager to go to the hospital to see Marlon on her special day.
When April begs to come with her, a guilty Rhona lies to April but privately resolves to fight her case with her dad.
In the hospital, Marlon’s guilty when Rhona tells him how much April misses visiting him, pushing for April to visit again.
The next day, April finally visits Marlon in hospital and the pair settle into each other’s company, moving Rhona to tears at how maturely April deals with her dad’s vulnerability.
Mary again scolds her daughter for doing too much, but determined Rhona sets her sights on getting him home. Rhona’s exhausted but Mary’s love for Rhona is evident.
Over in hospital, Gail uses tough love to encourage Marlon to use words rather than noises when he speaks - resulting in Marlon’s delight when he utters a complete sentence for the first time since his stroke.
The next day Paddy notices Rhona is struggling with the balancing act of parenting while also visiting Marlon.
Paddy visits him and on returning Rhona explains her plans to get him home soon and is delighted to hear Paddy’s got a plan up his sleeve to raise Marlon’s spirits.
While Marlon has been left debilitated by his traumatic stroke, showrunners are not using the health scare to pave the way for the character’s exit from the ITV soap.
Instead, Emmerdale aims to raise awareness of the illness, including how to spot the warning signs of a stroke and deliver hope for recovery, working closely with the Stroke Association to reflect true-to-life experiences.
