Jen Affleck pushes through illness ahead of Dancing with the Stars’ dedication week

Jen Affleck has faced a challenging week leading up to the latest episode of Dancing with the Stars. The 26-year-old content creator, known online as a “MomToker,” revealed on Instagram that she had been very sick ahead of Dedication Week. On Monday, October 13, she shared a photo of herself resting in bed while taking a COVID-19 and flu test. While she confirmed that she did not have COVID, she said she had been “very sick all week.”“Couldn’t practice as much this week. With lots of rest and help from Zac and my family, we still pulled something off,” she wrote. “Ironic that my song is ‘Rescue.’ This week tested me in ways I never imagined.”Jen also shared a heartfelt video of herself playing the song for her mother, explaining the emotional meaning behind her upcoming performance. “This song means everything to me—it’s for mothers who show up daily, serve without days off, and suffer in silence,” she wrote. “Postpartum and prenatal included. I want every mom to feel seen and heard.”Despite her illness, Jen continued to rehearse when possible and praised her dance partner, Jan Ravnik, for his patience and support. “Even after I got really sick and missed practices, he stayed patient, and in the little time we had, helped perfect the dance and make it feel extra special for me and my mom,” she said.Her husband, Zac, also shared his admiration for Jen’s determination to perform despite her health struggles. “Jen is dedicating this week’s dance to her mom, her kids, and all the mothers,” he wrote. “She’s been so sick and hasn’t been able to practice much, but she’s still giving it her all.”He added that Jen’s mother happened to be visiting during the tough week, helping care for her and cooking homemade meals. Zac also encouraged fans to send stories about how Jen has inspired them, hoping to share those messages with her before her performance.Jen’s openness about her challenges and dedication to the performance has earned her praise from fans, who continue to support her as she prepares to take the stage for Dedication Week.