Next week on Home and Away in the UK, emotions run high and loyalties are tested as Cohen’s health takes a dangerous turn, sending him to hospital and triggering

a chain of decisions that could alter the Stewart family forever. What begins as a mystery illness quickly becomes a life-or-death situation, pushing Roo, Alf,

and those closest to Cohen into uncharted emotional territory.

The Devastating Truth Cohen Was Never Supposed to Hear

For weeks, Roo has been carrying a painful secret—one that she desperately hoped she would never have to tell. Cohen’s mother, Samantha, after her arrest, had relinquished all parental rights, making it clear she wanted no further contact with her son. Roo, unable to break his heart, clung to the faint hope that Samantha might one day change her mind. She sent letter after letter, written by Cohen himself, imagining they might spark maternal guilt.

But the fragile illusion came crashing down when the prison returned the letters unopened, along with a blunt request that no further correspondence be sent. With no way to shield him from the truth any longer, Roo sat Cohen down and told him the painful reality.

The moment shattered him. At first, Cohen refused to believe his mother could abandon him so cruelly. Roo, holding back her own tears, assured him that his mother’s absence did not erase her love for him—yet the wound had been inflicted.

From Emotional Turmoil to Physical Decline

In the days that followed, Cohen withdrew. His appetite faded. When David stopped by to check on him, the boy’s pain boiled over into anger—accusing David of causing all of this by arresting his mother in the first place.

Soon, it became clear this wasn’t just emotional distress. Cohen’s listlessness deepened, his meals untouched, until one night he collapsed onto the sofa and fell into a restless sleep plagued by nightmares about his mum. Roo stayed up all night, gently waking him from his terrors, but by morning, his fever was climbing, and medication was failing.

Her foster instincts kicking in, Roo made the decision—Cohen was going to the hospital.

A Diagnosis That Raises the Stakes

At Northern Districts Hospital, Dr. Bree arrived for her shift trying to bury her own heartbreak over a recent breakup with Remi. She was in no mood for small talk, and Nurse Dana quickly moved the focus to Cohen’s case.

Roo hovered protectively at Cohen’s side as Bree examined him, confirming a particularly severe case of tonsillitis. Further tests were ordered, but when Bree returned, her tone was grave: Cohen’s white blood cell count and inflammatory markers were alarmingly high. Left untreated, the infection could escalate into sepsis—a dangerous, potentially fatal condition.

Bree suspected Cohen was downplaying his pain, only deepening Roo’s guilt for not realising sooner how sick he truly was. Dana prepared an IV antibiotic drip, reassuring Roo that he’d soon be feeling better, but the emotional toll was already evident.

Alf Returns to a Situation He Never Saw Coming

Just when Roo thought she was at breaking point, Alf walked in—fresh from a trip to Merimbula and summoned by a concerned Marilyn. Roo’s relief was palpable. She broke down in her father’s arms, confessing how overwhelming the last few days had been.

Alf, still in the dark about the full extent of Cohen’s situation, was surprised to learn she’d taken on another foster placement so soon after their harrowing experience with Eliza. He’d opposed the idea back then, fearing the emotional risk, but this was not the moment for that conversation. Seeing his daughter so drained, Alf told her to go home and rest—he would stay with Cohen.

A Bond Forms in the Quiet Hours

When Cohen awoke, he found a stranger by his bed, casually flipping through a fishing magazine. Alf introduced himself, and in that instant, the walls came down. Cohen’s eyes lit up at the mention of fishing, and the two began swapping stories about favourite spots and best catches.

For Alf, it was a revelation—he saw not just a vulnerable teenager but a spark of resilience and curiosity. For Cohen, it was a rare moment of connection in a world that had repeatedly let him down.

Marilyn’s Words Plant a Seed

Back in the Bay, Roo updated Marilyn on Cohen’s progress, noting that he hadn’t asked about his mother since being admitted. Marilyn, ever the voice of gentle wisdom, pointed out that it might mean Cohen no longer felt he was missing something—because Roo was enough.

Those words struck deep. Enough. Could she be more than just a temporary safe place for Cohen? Could she be a permanent home?

A Potentially Life-Changing Decision

When Roo returned to the hospital, Cohen was dozing again, Alf sitting quietly by his side. She thanked her father for stepping in, and he, in turn, praised her for her devotion. “There’s something pretty special about this kid,” Alf mused. “I’m proud of you, love. You’re doing a great job.”

It was the encouragement Roo didn’t know she needed. She took a breath, then told Alf she was seriously considering calling the department to ask about adopting Cohen.

For Roo, the decision carries enormous personal weight. Decades earlier, at just 17, she’d made the painful choice to place her newborn daughter, Martha, up for adoption. The idea of now becoming an adoptive mother herself feels like life coming full circle—a chance to offer a child the permanence she once couldn’t give.

But there are questions. Will Cohen want that level of commitment after all he’s endured? And will Alf, protective as ever, support his daughter’s leap into permanent motherhood?

The Road Ahead

As Home and Away heads into this emotional storyline, viewers can expect heart-wrenching scenes of vulnerability, trust, and the forging of unexpected family bonds. Cohen’s illness has been a turning point—not just for his health but for his future.

The infection is treatable, the fevers will break, but the deeper wounds—those left by abandonment, mistrust, and instability—will take longer to heal. Roo’s offer of adoption could be the lifeline Cohen desperately needs. Or it could push him further into retreat if he fears another loss.

Meanwhile, Alf’s role is evolving. Once skeptical about Roo fostering again, he now finds himself drawn into Cohen’s world, perhaps even seeing echoes of his own younger self in the boy’s resilience and stubbornness.

As Cohen’s recovery begins, the question isn’t just whether he will get better—it’s whether Roo’s house will remain a temporary stop or finally become the home he’s been searching for all along.

One thing is certain: next week’s episodes promise a perfect blend of Home and Away’s trademark heart, drama, and emotional punch. And for Roo, Alf, and Cohen, the decisions made now could change their lives forever.