TOWIE’s Jordan Brook Credits Unborn Son for Giving Him Strength to Fight Life-Threatening Meningitis
Jordan Brook, star of The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE), has opened up about the harrowing near-death experience that shook his life after he was diagnosed with a severe case of viral meningitis. The reality TV star, who was on the cusp of celebrating the birth of his first child with partner Sophie Kasaei, found himself fighting for survival when his health took a terrifying turn.
Initially misdiagnosed with a migraine, Jordan’s symptoms worsened rapidly, leading to his hospitalization with both viral meningitis and encephalitis. For 22 days, Jordan battled for his life as the viruses caused his brain to swell at an alarming rate, even altering his personality.
In a candid interview, Jordan shared, “If I hadn’t trusted my gut instinct, I’d be dead. My symptoms were far worse than what the doctors thought, and I knew something wasn’t right.” During his time in the hospital, Jordan admitted to experiencing drastic personality changes due to the pressure on his brain. “There were times I didn’t even know who I was,” he revealed.
As the days passed, Jordan’s motivation to survive became clear: his unborn son. With just ten weeks left until his son’s birth, Jordan was faced with the heartbreaking possibility of not being there to witness the miracle they had longed for. He reflected, “We’ve been through hell and back trying to have a baby, and suddenly, I was staring at the possibility of not being there for the birth of my son.”
Both Jordan and Sophie, who had endured a two-year IVF journey to conceive, had been dreaming of this moment for years. In the darkest days of his illness, it was the thought of becoming a father that gave Jordan the strength to keep fighting. “He saved my life,” Jordan said, his voice full of emotion. “Becoming a father was the one thing I held onto and never forgot, even when the virus was changing who I was.”
Now, Jordan is grateful to be recovering and looking forward to becoming a father, holding on to the joy of his “miracle” baby, whose arrival has been eagerly awaited after such a difficult journey.
