Rocco Scott-Braxton

Soon after her wedding to Liam, Bianca learnt that she was pregnant. Although under the impression Liam was the father, an ultrasound soon revealed her pregnancy was further along than she first believed. This confirmed that Bianca’s fleeting liaison with Heath had resulted in her falling pregnant.

After Bianca, who had been diagnosed with preeclampsia and forced onto bed rest, suffered a seizure, Sid and Melissa were forced to give her an emergency caesarean to deliver Bianca’s child several weeks premature. His early weeks were marred as Bianca was placed into an induced coma after suffering a major seizure the day after his birth. When Bianca awoke from her coma, with confirmation of a stroke, she was convinced her baby had died. However, after treatment, she began embracing her son, before he suffered a seizure. Sid diagnosed him with ABO blood incompatibility, requiring a blood transfusion from a B+ donor as he and Bianca had different blood types. After testing confirmed Heath was a blood match, he donated the transfusion to save his son’s life.

With his life now seemingly out of the woods, Bianca and Heath tried to find a name. Heath suggested something linked to him being a fighter, and whilst Bianca didn’t like the suggestion of Rocky, she opted for Rocco – her grandfather’s name. Heath agreed, asking that he not carry just the Braxton name, as he wanted his son to have a better chance in life than he did. Following an altercation with his father Danny, Heath realised the benefit of giving his son the surname of Braxton: so he could be the first Braxton child to have two loving parents.

For the next few weeks, Rocco stayed in hospital, gaining strength each day. Bianca briefly discharged him on the day of Danny’s funeral, to give Heath the support he needed. The following week, Rocco was released from hospital and moved into Bianca’s bedroom in the beach house. When Bianca returned to work, she let her anxiety take over, wanting Irene to be around when Heath was looking after Rocco, but she was surprised by his paternal nature. As Bianca began to trust Heath, Rocco took a turn and was flown to a city hospital where it was revealed he had developed late onset strep B, a blood infection common in premature children. After intensive antibiotic treatment, Rocco made a full recovery and was discharged. He moved into Heath’s bedroom in the share house with his parents upon his return to Summer Bay.

After a brief visit from his grandmother Cheryl, Rocco succumbed to sudden infant death syndrome, devastating Bianca and Heath. In a closed service the following week, Rocco was farewelled by his family.