EastEnders fans have been sending love and support to actress Cheryl Fergison, best known for her role as Heather Trott, after she revealed she is still recovering from a serious stroke that left her temporarily unable to walk.

The 60-year-old star, who lives in Cleveleys, Lancashire, shared the emotional update with fans on Instagram, reflecting on her progress and her determination to regain independence after the medical emergency earlier this year.

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“I Can Walk With a Stick Now”

In a heartfelt video post, Cheryl said she can now walk “a certain amount” before getting tired and proudly told followers that she’s learning to move again.

“I can walk with a stick now from the stroke, which is brilliant,” she shared. “I can walk a certain amount before I get puffed out.”

During a recent outing to her local Premier shop, Cheryl had a touching encounter with a fan who had read her autobiography. The woman praised Cheryl’s resilience and suggested her story should be made into a TV series or film — an idea that clearly inspired the former soap star.

“Let’s make this happen,” Cheryl smiled. “It would be absolutely fantastic. It was just a thought from a lovely lady in my local shop, but it planted a seed in my brain.”

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The Night Everything Changed

Cheryl previously revealed that the stroke struck suddenly in May 2025 while she was at home watching TV.

“I started to feel funny, with a really bad headache at the back of my head,” she recalled in an interview with The Mirror. “I went to bed but couldn’t settle. When I got up in the night to go to the bathroom, my balance completely went and I had to stop myself from falling over. My whole right side felt numb, heavy and tingly.”

Realizing something was seriously wrong, she called her son Alex, who immediately recognized the signs of a stroke and phoned an ambulance.

Cheryl was rushed to Blackpool Hospital, where doctors confirmed she had indeed suffered a stroke. The illness left her unable to walk, and she spent months retraining her body to move again.

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“I’ve Had to Retrain My Brain”

The beloved actress described her recovery as both physically and emotionally challenging.

“I couldn’t even pick up a penny at first,” she said. “You lose the ability to coordinate your hands, to walk properly, your balance is gone. It’s frustrating and makes you angry. But I’ve started to recover; I’m coming on in leaps and bounds now.”

This isn’t the first health battle Cheryl has faced. In 2015, she underwent surgery for womb cancer, later crediting her son and her positive outlook for helping her through the ordeal.

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A Message of Strength and Hope

Despite her struggles, Cheryl continues to share her recovery journey with honesty and humor. Fans across the UK have praised her openness and resilience, calling her an “inspiration” for others recovering from illness.

As she focuses on her rehabilitation, Cheryl says she hopes to return to work — and perhaps even bring her incredible life story to the screen one day.

“It’s been tough,” she admitted. “But every day I walk a little further, and I’m grateful for that.”