The picturesque beaches of Summer Bay are about to play host to one of the most emotional and heart-wrenching chapters in Home and Away’s long-running history. Next week in the UK episodes,

fans will witness Mackenzie Booth (Emily Weir) and Levi Fowler (Tristan Gorey) face a life-changing update on their IVF journey — and the results will leave viewers reeling.

For months, the couple’s story has been building toward this pivotal moment. What began as a hopeful dream of starting a family has spiraled into a test of resilience, love, and heartbreak.

Now, with IVF treatment reaching a crucial stage, Mackenzie and Levi will finally get answers. But are they the answers they’ve been longing for, or will the cruel hand of fate deal them another devastating blow?

A Dream Sparked in Queensland

Mackenzie’s longing for a family of her own was first ignited during a heartwarming trip to Queensland earlier this year. Visiting Dean Thompson (Patrick O’Connor), Ziggy Astoni (Sophie Dillman), and their daughter Izzy, Mack was struck by the beauty of parenthood and the joy Dean and Ziggy radiated. That spark quickly grew into determination, and she returned to Summer Bay with a new mission: to build a family with Levi.

Levi, who has long shared Mack’s vision of a future filled with love and children, threw himself into the plan wholeheartedly. The pair began trying for a baby naturally, clinging to the dream that it would happen quickly. Yet, after weeks of mounting disappointment, the positive test result they prayed for never came.

Seeking Answers

Confused and discouraged, Mackenzie and Levi decided to confront the issue head-on. Both underwent fertility tests, bracing themselves for difficult news. To their surprise, the results revealed no medical complications — both were healthy and fertile. While that knowledge brought some comfort, it also left them baffled. If there was no physical barrier, why was conceiving proving impossible?

Desperate for clarity, Mackenzie turned to her mother, Tanya. What she learned reshaped her entire perspective: Tanya herself had faced fertility challenges, and Mackenzie was conceived through IVF. The revelation hit Mackenzie hard, but it also gave her an unexpected sense of connection. History, it seemed, was repeating itself. And with natural conception proving elusive, IVF became the logical next step in their journey.

The Trials of IVF

Beginning IVF was not a decision taken lightly. Mackenzie and Levi both knew the process would be emotionally and physically demanding. Still, their shared determination to start a family outweighed the fear.

The early stages tested Mackenzie’s strength. Hormone treatments left her fatigued and emotional, while the side effects of injections and medications took their toll. Levi, ever attentive, hovered constantly — his protectiveness both comforting and, at times, suffocating. Despite the struggles, Mackenzie pressed forward, buoyed by the hope of what lay at the end of the process.

When doctors revealed that seven follicles had matured, the couple finally felt the glimmer of success. Seven potential eggs meant seven possible chances to achieve their dream. After a tense period of waiting, the trigger injection was administered, and Mackenzie endured painful cramps while holding tightly to Levi’s reassurances that every hurdle brought them closer to parenthood.

The Egg Retrieval

Next week’s episodes mark the moment Mackenzie and Levi have been working toward: the egg retrieval procedure. The atmosphere is thick with tension as Mackenzie, anxious but determined, places her trust in the medical team and in Levi’s constant support.

The procedure runs smoothly, and the couple is met with encouraging news: all seven eggs have been successfully collected. Relief washes over them, and for the first time in weeks, they allow themselves a flicker of cautious optimism.

But in IVF, retrieval is only the beginning. The true test comes in the days that follow — the critical period when fertilization determines whether embryos will develop. For Mackenzie and Levi, the waiting game is excruciating, but they cling to hope. After all, just one mature embryo would be enough to move forward.

The Call That Shatters Everything

Later in the week, Mackenzie receives the call that will forever alter her journey. Her face crumples as she listens to the devastating update: none of the embryos have matured.

In an instant, the hopeful future she and Levi had envisioned evaporates. The IVF cycle has failed. There are no embryos. No transfer. No pregnancy. Just the crushing realization that they are back at square one.

The weight of the news is unbearable. Returning home, Mackenzie collapses into Levi’s arms, her sobs echoing the heartbreak of shattered dreams. Levi, equally devastated, struggles to stay strong for the woman he loves, but the enormity of their shared loss hangs heavy between them.

A Test of Love and Strength

This heartbreaking development forces Mackenzie and Levi to face the most difficult question of all: do they have the strength to try again? IVF is notoriously grueling, not only physically but emotionally and financially. The toll it has already taken is evident in Mackenzie’s fragile state and in the quiet despair that lingers in Levi’s eyes.

Yet, if history has shown anything, it is that Mackenzie is a fighter. From personal heartbreak to health scares, she has always found a way to rise again. The question now is whether she and Levi can channel that resilience into continuing their quest for a family.

The Wider Impact

This storyline is not just about Mackenzie and Levi. Home and Away has long prided itself on tackling real-world issues with honesty and sensitivity, and IVF is a subject that resonates deeply with countless viewers. By exploring the highs and lows of the process, the show sheds light on the silent struggles many couples endure, bringing visibility to a journey often marked by isolation and grief.

Friends in Summer Bay will no doubt rally around the couple. Dean, already a pivotal inspiration in Mackenzie’s journey, could play a vital role in offering perspective and support. Ziggy, too, may lend comfort, her own experiences as a mother reminding Mackenzie that joy, though fragile, is still possible.

What’s Next for Mackenzie and Levi?

As the dust settles from this crushing blow, all eyes will be on Mackenzie and Levi’s next move. Will they find the courage to attempt another round of IVF, knowing the emotional rollercoaster it entails? Or will they consider alternative paths to parenthood — such as surrogacy or adoption — as a way to fulfill their dreams?

Whatever lies ahead, one thing is certain: their journey has only just begun. The heartbreak of this failed cycle will shape their characters in profound ways, testing their love, resilience, and ability to weather life’s hardest storms.

A Storyline That Hits Home

In true Home and Away fashion, this storyline promises to leave viewers not just entertained but deeply moved. By weaving together themes of hope, loss, and perseverance, the soap continues to prove why it remains a staple of dramatic television.

For Mackenzie and Levi, the road ahead may be uncertain, but their story resonates because it reflects the real-life challenges faced by countless families around the world. It is raw, it is emotional, and above all, it is human.

And as fans watch Mackenzie collapse in Levi’s arms, devastated by the news that none of their embryos survived, one question will linger in the hearts of viewers everywhere: how do you pick up the pieces when your dream is shattered?

The answer — and the next chapter of their journey — is about to unfold on the sands of Summer Bay.