COUNTING ON New season to focus on health of Derick Dillard

A new trailer released by TLC reveals that Derick Dillard’s health complications will finally be addressed in the upcoming season of Counting On.

Each time Jill Dillard shares a photo of husband Derick Dillard to social media, Duggar fans express concern over Derick’s emaciated appearance.  This has led to a ton of speculation about what, if anything, is ailing the devoted dad. Now it looks like viewers are going to get an answer.

The storyline picks up with Jill and Derick back in the U.S.A. after their mission trip to Central America. The teaser shows Derick violently hacking and trying to catch his breath while out on a run.

Derick: It feels great to be home and run like I used to but it is difficult sometimes.

Jill: It makes him feel “gaggy” is what we say.

Derick: I’m excited to talk to the doctor about what he thinks might be going on.

In a blog post from July, as reported by Ashley’s Reality Roundup, Jill assured everybody that the pair had not contracted the Zika virus:

“Health is something we don’t take for granted, especially on the mission field in another country in an environment we’re not used to. Derick and I are generally very healthy people, but when you’re eating, drinking and living in a different place than the one you grew up in, it’s not uncommon to come down with the ‘traveler’s stuff’ or other bacteria/viruses in the local jungle area… No, we haven’t had Zika that we know of, but both of us have been laid out for a few days here and there, thankfully not both at the same time though.”

Some of Derick’s weight loss is attributable to undergoing an intense maxillofacial surgery in which his jaw had to be broken and realigned as well as him getting braces for his teeth.

Counting On returns to TLC on Monday, January 16 at 9/8c.