Danniella Westbrook, 47, reveals she is back in hospital to undergo surgery after sinus infection left her in intensive care
Danniella Westbrook revealed she is back in hospital awaiting surgery in an emotional Instagram post on Friday.
The former EastEnders star, 47, is due to have an operation at Aintree University Hospital after doctors feared a nasty sinus infection could ‘reach her brain’.
Danniella shared a picture in her hospital gown and told her followers she felt ‘so overwhelmed and full of hope and gratitude’.
Illness: Danniella Westbrook revealed she is back in hospital awaiting surgery in an emotional Instagram post on Friday
She continued: ‘Huge thanks to the most amazing surgeons and @nhs team x’
Danniella also took to her Instagram stories to share the same picture and she added Christina Aguilera’s anthem Fighter.
During a previous hospital stay the star was told she might need surgery to prevent a repeat of the infection.
It comes after doctors feared the infection could ‘track back to her brain’ after ‘antibiotics didn’t work’.
Scary: The former EastEnders star, 47, is to undergo surgery after a nasty sinus infection left doctors fearing for her brain
Gatitude: Sharing a picture in a hospital gown while waiting to go into theater at Aintree University Hospital she said she felt ‘so overwhelmed and full of hope and gratitude’
A source told The Sun: ‘Danniella is really poorly. She ended up in ICU after antibiotics for a sinus infection didn’t work.
‘Experts were concerned infected mucus could track back to her brain, but she is being well cared for in hospital and is on the mend.’
Her hospitalisation comes after she vowed to turn her life around following years of drug abuse and relapsing onto ‘cocaine and champagne’ earlier this year.
The actress’ battle with drugs has been well-publicised, and she famously had her nose reconstructed after her septum collapsed from excessive cocaine use in 2002.
Traumatic: The star was taken to hospital again last month when she took to Instagram to share an image of ambulances
New look: The star has since embarked on multiple rehab stints in order to battle her demons – and revealed she was finally clean in June last year, after attending a clinic in Mijas, Spain
At the height of her use it was reported she would take up to five grams of cocaine a day, blowing close to £250,000 on the drug.
The star has since embarked on multiple rehab stints in order to battle her demons – and revealed she was finally clean in June last year, after attending a clinic in Mijas, Spain.
Danniella first appeared in EastEnders in 1990 at the age of 16 and acted on the soap for three years.
She returned in 1996 but her time was cut short when her off-screen behaviour got her sacked.
She returned again shortly after, but was axed again in 2000 after further disruptive behaviour, admitting she blew £100k on cocaine at the time.
The part was recast between 2002 and 2005, and played by Kim Medcalf, but Danniella returned to the role once more in 2009 until 2010.
She was back once more in 2016 for the storyline surrounding on-screen mother Peggy Mitchell’s death, which is to date her final appearance.
Actress: Danniella first appeared in EastEnders in 1990 at the age of 16 and has had several stints on the soap over the years (pictured 2009)