Coronation Street‘s Dee-Dee Bailey is left in turmoil later this month as she discovers that Lauren Bolton’s baby son

Frankie is seriously ill.

Dee-Dee steps in to support Lauren after Frankie is rushed back into hospital with unexplained bruises.

Joel Deering’s parents Gus and Anthea find the bruises on Frankie while spending time with their grandson next week.

Lauren initially assumes the couple are trying to set her up ahead of a potential custody battle, but all becomes clear when doctors give her Frankie’s blood test results.

In scenes airing from December 16, Lauren tells her boyfriend Max Turner that Frankie’s situation is more sinister than they first thought.

Meanwhile, Dee-Dee Bailey confides in her friend Sarah Barlow about how she has reached a decision over her secret pregnancy.

Viewers know that Dee-Dee has been struggling with the revelation that she’s pregnant with Joel’s baby. In a heart-to-heart with Sarah last month, Dee-Dee expressed her fears that the child would always remind her of evil Joel.

Dee-Dee’s day is interrupted when Max warns her about Frankie’s illness and how a distraught Lauren is struggling with her mental health.

Concerned, Dee-Dee heads to see Lauren at the hospital and promises to help her find a donor for Frankie.

With Dee-Dee aware that her unborn baby would be Frankie’s half-sibling, and could be considered as a potential donor, will this affect her decision?

By the end of the week, the doctor officially confirms Frankie’s diagnosis and promises to start the process of looking for a donor.

Knowing what’s at stake, will this make Dee-Dee’s choice even more difficult?

Coronation Street airs these scenes on Monday, December 16, Wednesday, December 18, and Friday, December 20, on ITV1 and ITVX.