Joe Morton
Joe Morton (2006, 2008)
Declan Ransley/Justin Martin/Olivia Barclay/Sayer Long/Rafferty Grierson/Cooper Brittian/Henry Lucas (2006); Marley Cooke (2008)
Episodes: 4306 – 4327;4720 – 4730
Parents: Lee Morton & Steve Braeburn
Lee Morton gave birth to a baby boy on 30th October 2006 at Northern Districts Hospital. However, soon after she abandoned the baby and ran off with her boyfriend Dane who didn’t want anything to do with him. Rachel then began to bond with the baby and her and Kim decided to name him Joe. Rachel then decided she wanted to take care of Joe so took him home to live with her and Kim. Despite Kim’s initial reluctance they decided to start the adoption process so they could become Joe’s parents legally. The day before their wedding, the adoption was approved and an ectastic Rachel and Kim got married with their new son in attendance.
However, on their wedding night Lee turned up at their house and said she wanted Joe back. Rachel was devastated and vowed to fight for custody of Joe. Rachel then realised that Joe needed to be with his mother and her and Kim said a tearful farewell to him.
2 years later Joe turned up at the hospital with Dane, as his mother Lee had took off to Queensland and left them. He had bruises on his knee so Rachel ran some tests. Despite initially thinking that Dane was hitting Joe, Rachel discover that Joe had a tumour in his femur (bone cancer). She encouraged Dane to start treatment immediately but Dane was more concerned with finding Lee and wanted to take Joe to Queensland to find her. Rachel then persuaded Dane to let Joe stay with her and Tony to help him build his strength up and ensure he got the treatment he needed.
Rachel then began to bond with Joe all over again which concerned Tony, even though he enjoyed looking after him too. Dane then returned home from Queensland and, after a visit to the hospital, decided to take Joe back up there to find Lee. Rachel then said another tearful goodbye to Joe and he left with Dane who said he would make sure Joe got the treatment he needed.
Dane came back the the Bay in episode 4738 and told Rachel that Joe had died. He said Joe had a fever so he took him to the hospital and they said he had an infection. He said Joe’s condition got worse very quickly and there was nothing the doctors could do to save him.