Emmerdale’s Laurel faces her toughest test yet when she’s forced to put husband Ashley into a care home.
As the cruelty of their situation hits home, can Laurel find a way to cope? And will there by a dry eye in the house as she tries to?
Events leading up to this moment have been pretty hard on the vicar’s wife. She’s tried everything she possibly can to keep her family together, but has had to ask for help.
With the commitments of raising three children, holding down a job, running the family home, and caring for her dementia-sufferer husband, it’s just all become too much for Mrs Thomas.
She’s resisted putting Ashley into a residential care home for as long as she could, but now the time has come, she struggles to compose herself as she packs away his belongings.
When Ashley then forgets he’s going anywhere, and lashes out, thinking he’s being kicked out of his own home, Laurel tries desperately to contain her emotions while she explains what’s happening to him again.
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She manages to compose herself and calm the situation down and they have one last lovely moment together as they sit down to enjoy a family meal.
The heartwarming scene is all too much for Laurel who, aware what she’s losing, begins to sob when she’s finally alone.
The next day dawns and Laurel and Gabby get Ashley’s things together before taking him to the residential home.
But it’s Laurel who struggles with the change more than Ashley, who seems to settle into his new surroundings with ease.
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As she tries to contemplate this new life without her husband by her side, Laurel’s sadness is overwhelming.
Has she done the right thing? Will Ashley’s quality of life improve now he’s getting proper care? And Can Laurel cope on her own?