Coronation Street actress Jane Danson has admitted that she feared she was being sacked after hearing about Oliver's tragic storyline.
The soap star's character Leanne Battersby has been left devastated after hearing that three-year-old son Oliver has mitochondrial disease.
The disease is a result of failures of the mitochondria, which are specialised compartments present in every cell in the body apart from blood cells.
However, Jane initially believed it would act as a "leaving story" for Leanne.
Yet Corrie boss Iain told Jane that it would actually spell a "new chapter" for Leanne.
Speaking to Metro, she said: "That was my initial concern – it felt like the end for Leanne, a leaving story.
"I know how soap works so spoke to (show boss) Iain and understood my character might become a casualty but I asked if he could tell me now if this was it.
"But he said it’s quite the contrary – the beginning of a new chapter for her."
She added: "It’s quite possibly the worst thing that can happen to anybody but having spoken to Liz from The Lily Foundation charity, life does go on in a way after this horrific journey, and Leanne will go through a bad time but she has another responsibility in Simon."
Jane also said that Oliver's circumstance may make Leanne "finally grow up".
Corrie aired devastating scenes on Wednesday night, in the wake of Oliver's possible diagnosis.
His worried dad Steve McDonald was left asking whether his son would die, as the reality of their situation dawned on him.
*Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm on ITV
