Emmerdale star Liam Fox's fiancee was told she was weeks from death before defeating a rare autoimmune disease.
Joanna, 44 – who recently got engaged to the Dan Spencer actor – poignantly opened up about how she "nearly lost [her] life" several years ago, as the couple discussed their engagement with OK! magazine.
Speaking about how the health wobble affected their relationship even today, she said: "I was seriously ill in 2015 and nearly lost my life, which makes me appreciate what I have with Liam even more.
"I nearly died from a tumour; when it was discovered, I was weeks away from death.
"I realised something was wrong when I started getting double vision so I went to Specsavers who gave me glasses, but that didn’t help.
"I was eventually referred to a consultant and was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis [a rare autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness]."
Joanna went on to explain how a consultant gave her a scan and discovered that the tumor was growing near her heart.
Luckily, after having it removed she made a full recovery three months later.
Liam and Joanna announced their engagement in April, sharing a picture of Jo branding her sparkling diamond ring for all to see.
The soap star and Jo first met in the 90s while studying media and performance together at Salford University.
Liam went on to marry Hollyoaks actress Nicole Barber-Lane, but the pair – who share two children – split in 2015 after 16 years of marriage.
He then reconciled with Jo in 2017 after several years apart, and fell head over heels.
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