Summer Bay is shaken to its core next week on Home and Away as a sudden medical emergency forces long-buried fears, life-altering decisions, and family tensions

into the open. When troubled teen Cohen Luther is rushed to hospital, what initially appears to be a routine health scare soon becomes the emotional catalyst

for one of the most consequential storylines Rue Stewart has ever faced — and not everyone is ready for the choice she’s about to make.

The drama begins when Cohen falls seriously unwell, leaving Rue riddled with guilt and fear. Despite her best efforts to protect and support him since he arrived in Summer Bay, Rue can’t shake the sense that she’s failed him. Her anxiety intensifies when Cohen is admitted to hospital, where Dr Bree Cameron delivers a diagnosis of tonsillitis. While medically manageable, the scare is enough to send shockwaves through Rue, forcing her to confront just how deeply invested she has become in Cohen’s wellbeing.

As Rue struggles to keep herself together, Alf Stewart steps in, arriving at the hospital to support his daughter when she needs it most. In a quietly powerful moment, Alf urges Rue to go home and rest, insisting he’ll stay with Cohen. It’s a gesture that speaks volumes — not just of Alf’s love for Rue, but of the responsibility he feels toward the vulnerable teen who has already endured more instability than most.

Left alone with Cohen, Alf sees a side of the boy that few others have. Their conversation is simple and tender, sparked by a fishing magazine Alf brings along. As they chat, Alf begins to understand exactly why Rue has grown so attached. Beneath Cohen’s guarded exterior is a sweet, anxious, and deeply lonely young man desperate for stability. For Alf, it’s a sobering realisation — and one that begins to soften his reservations.

When Rue returns to the hospital, Alf doesn’t hold back. He tells her how proud he is of the way she’s handled herself and how impressed he is by her commitment to Cohen. But the moment is quickly overshadowed when Rue reveals the truth she’s been holding onto — a decision that will change all their lives.

Rue wants to adopt Cohen.

The declaration hits Alf like a thunderbolt. While he understands Rue’s compassion and desire to help, he’s immediately filled with concern. Alf knows better than anyone how deeply Rue feels things — and how devastating it can be when her heart is broken. Memories of her previous fostering experience with Eliza Sherwood, which ended in manipulation, betrayal, and emotional trauma, are still painfully fresh. Alf fears Rue is opening herself up to another heartbreak she may not survive unscathed.

Rue, however, is unwavering. For her, this isn’t an impulsive choice born out of guilt — it’s a carefully considered decision driven by love, responsibility, and a belief that Cohen deserves a real chance at a stable future. Still, Alf can’t shake the feeling that she’s rushing headlong into another life-altering commitment without fully processing the risks.

As Cohen continues to recover, another bombshell drops. David Langham updates Rue on the legal status of Cohen’s mother, Samantha, revealing she has been sentenced to twelve months in prison. The news cements the reality of Cohen’s situation: he is, for all intents and purposes, alone. While the sentence provides clarity, it also places the weight of Cohen’s future squarely on Rue’s shoulders.

Seeking perspective, Rue turns to Cash Newman, hoping his personal experience in foster care might help guide her decision. Cash invites her into the yard for a quiet cup of tea, offering advice that’s grounded, honest, and hard to hear. He warns Rue that good intentions aren’t enough — consistency and certainty are everything. “The last thing that kid needs,” Cash tells her gently, “is any more confusion.”

The conversation doesn’t deter Rue. If anything, it strengthens her resolve.

Unlike her previous experience with Eliza, Cohen is settling into Summer Bay in a way that feels natural and hopeful. He’s engaging, opening up, and beginning to trust the people around him. Rue sees a boy who wants to belong — not manipulate. In her eyes, Cohen couldn’t be more different from Eliza, and that difference is everything.

But Alf remains unconvinced.

Their disagreement intensifies as Rue pushes forward with her adoption plans, determined to do what she believes is right — with or without her father’s approval. Alf, driven by fear rather than doubt, urges her to slow down. He worries that Rue’s empathy is clouding her judgment and that she hasn’t fully reckoned with the emotional, legal, and personal challenges adoption will bring.

The tension between them is palpable. Alf isn’t questioning Rue’s heart — he’s questioning whether she’s prepared for the lifelong responsibility she’s taking on. Rue, meanwhile, feels deeply misunderstood. To her, hesitation feels like abandonment — not just of her decision, but of Cohen himself.

Behind closed doors, Rue grapples with the weight of her choice. She knows adoption isn’t a fairytale solution. It won’t erase Cohen’s trauma or magically fix his past. But she believes, with every fibre of her being, that offering him security and unconditional support is worth the risk.

As Summer Bay watches the situation unfold, one question looms large: can Rue convince Alf that this time, she knows what she’s doing? Or will his doubts create a rift that threatens to tear their family apart?

Cohen’s hospitalisation may have been the spark — but the emotional fallout is only just beginning. With futures hanging in the balance and hearts on the line, Home and Away delivers a powerful reminder that sometimes the most frightening risks are also the most necessary ones.