Days of OUr Live

A few weeks ago we reported that 'All My Children's' award-winning actress Debbi Morgan would be taking some time off from the soap. This week we've learned the reason for her leave of absence: Morgan is dealing with Lyme disease.

While appearing on 'The Tom Joyner Show,' Morgan talked about her condition: "I had to take a leave of absence because I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. It's nothing fatal. Lyme disease is an infection caused by the borrelia bacteria from a tick. It's a chronic condition and I've had it in my system for over 15 years."

"I had two pit bulls when I lived up in the hills of L.A. and could've gotten [bit] from [a tick on] them."

On the bright side, Morgan will be back to work on 'AMC' very soon; expect to see her back in Pine Valley as Dr. Angie Hubbard in early March.

Welcome to the Soap Round-Up, our weekly recap of all the soap action this past week. Each week, we sum up all the best stories from each and every soap, from 'All My Children' to 'The Young and the Restless.'

If you don't want to know what aired already, consider this a SPOILER ALERT. ... Oh, one last thing, please comment and join the conversation.

For instance, what do think of the latest from 'General Hospital,' with Franco faking his own death and stealing Elizabeth and Nikolas' baby? What kind of a sick, evil nut case is he? Share your thoughts in the comments below ...

There's more details coming out about Gena Rowlands' upcoming guest turn on 'NCIS,' thanks to a report from TV Guide soap expert Michael Logan. When Rowlands appears on 'NCIS' March 2 as Gibbs' former mother-in-law, Joann, the show will flashback to a time when Joann and Jethro were much younger.

The younger Gibbs will be played by Sean Harmon, Mark's own son, and the younger version of Joann will be portrayed by 'Days of Our Lives'' Emmy-winner Leann Hunley.

Hunley (pictured), who plays Anna DiMera on 'Days of Our Lives,' told Logan that she was thrilled to play Joann in flashback, especially because of her admiration for Rowlands. "When I first saw her back in the '70s in 'A Woman Under the Influence,' I thought, 'That woman looks like me! She has my eyes!'" Hunley told Logan.