EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy rushed daughter to hospital after arm 'smashed to pieces'
EastEnders alum Natalie Cassidy thought she was going to have a "nervous breakdown" after Joaine broke her arm.
EastEnders alum Natalie Cassidy rushed her daughter to hospital after her arm was "smashed to pieces".
The 43-year-old actress - who played National Health Service (NHS) nurse Sonia Fowler on the BBC soap - felt she was going to have a "nervous breakdown" after nine-year-old Joaine took a nasty fall in her school's hall before the youngster's PE class.
Joaine's injury came eight weeks after she had metal work removed from her arm following the same accident years prior.
On the latest episode of the Life with Nat podcast, Natalie's fiance, EastEnders cameraman Marc Humphreys, said: "Just in the hottest week of the year, we've just had to spend two days in a hospital."
Natalie added: "Joaine's broken her arm again, everybody. Same arm, smashed to pieces. General anaesthetic, same operation."
The Cooking with the Stars 2025 champion then explained their "traumatic" day on June 23.
Natalie said: "On Tuesday, I’d done a little bit of work in the morning, quite funny work at home. You were at home. You've not stopped working for a month, not had a day off.
"This week is going to be baking hot. You went outside, put the paddling pool up, cut all the grass - thinking we're going to have a few days, like a little mini holiday at home ...
"And then the phone rang. She slipped over in the hall before doing PE."
Marc noted that Joaine had the metal plates in her arm removed eight weeks before she broke it again.
Natalie said: "A few years ago, she broke her arm, and it was a clean break. She then broke it again, and they put all the metal work in. And then eight weeks ago, she went under general anaesthetic, had it all out, and has done it again."
The Celebrity Big Brother 2012 housemate added: "I felt I was going to have a nervous breakdown, actually, on Tuesday. I’m being really honest with people here. I really fell to pieces. I was not in a good place.
"Just her little body, and the medication and the trauma of it all."
Natalie and Marc thought that "some sort of deficiency" was causing Joaine's frequent injuries.
But Natalie noted: "She's had full blood tests, and everything is in range. It's absolutely perfect. The consultant actually said, 'I do think it's just really bad luck.'"
The Strictly Come Dancing 2009 star lauded the staff for their care amid working during the UK heatwave, which saw temperatures reach 37.7 °C.
Natalie said: "The hosptal was quite warm for the few days we were in there. The staff working in that... they're not moaning, they're laughing, they're joking. Just wonderful, wonderful people. We were so well looked after again.
"It's like a little trip, now. It's like being in a hotel!"
The staff recognises Joaine because of how many times she has been in hospital.
Marc said: "The anaesthetist knew her. They all know Joaine. The anaesthetist even said, 'Oh, I've done the bandage on the bear again like I did last time.'"
Natalie added: "I went down to theatre. I said, 'Hello, Barbara.' I mean, who, in their right mind, knows the f****** people in the hospital?"
The entertainer praised Joanie for being so brave.
Natalie said: "She's had her medicine, she's got her fan. She's watching the telly, and she's a bit fed up.
"But she gets on with it, really. She's so brave."
Natalie is also mum to Eliza with her 45-year-old ex-partner Adam Cottrell.
