TV Picks: ‘ The Emmy®-winning syndicated daytime TV series The Doctors celebrates its 1000th episode on Tuesday, April 29 (check your local listings).
In recognition of the milestone, the show takes an emotional look at many of the people whose lives were helped, both on the show and from viewers at home who offer incredible stories of how watching the program saved their life, or the life of a loved one.
Stories include a woman who saved her husband when he went into cardiac arrest by remembering a segment on how to do compressions to the tune of “Staying Alive;” a mother who credits the show for helping her detect appendicitis in her 11 year-old son, so she could get him to a hospital before it burst; a man who became convinced to have his first colonoscopy at age 70 where they discovered he had thousands of polyps that would have killed him if they weren’t removed; and a 38 year-old woman who learned how do a self-check for breast cancer and discovered a lump that turned out to be cancerous.
On April 25th, The Doctors featured Apryl Brown, 47, whose shocking side effects of Black Market butt injections became a devastating experience which resulted in the amputation of her buttocks, hands and feet. She is joined by top board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Constantino Mendieta of Miami, Florida who is the preeminent expert on gluteal sculpting. Sadly he is all too often called in to save lives from these horrific injections, and he carefully explains what he deals with as a surgeon to the audience.
Surprise for Woman Who Lost Limbs
Apryl, 47, lost her hands and feet as a result of black market buttock-enhancing injections. The Doctors surprise Apryl by reaching out to A Step Ahead Prosthetics, who are willing to provide her with custom myoelectric prostheses.
Two of the most unforgettable stories in the six-year history of the show, which debuted September 8, 2008, are also revisited, with an in-studio visit from face transplant recipient Carmen Tarleton, a woman whose face was burned beyond recognition in 2011 in a brutal attack by her ex-husband.
The show also looks back at their time (doing emergency medicine) in Haiti, after the devastating earthquake of 2010, including a phone call from the head of the orphanage where THE DOCTORS’ co-hosts saved many lives. The milestone program also brings back some memorable guests who learn how they inspired others by sharing their own difficult stories. Plus, co-host Dr. Travis Stork makes a personal revelation about his least-favorite body part.
“As a doctor, it’s incredibly rewarding to have a positive impact on the lives of both our guests and our viewers,” says Dr. Stork, who has co-hosted the show through all six seasons. “I am also continually inspired by the bravery of people who face difficult medical challenges in life, yet approach their circumstances with endless optimism.”
“Since the show’s debut in 2008, we’ve provided our viewers with the gold standard in health and wellness information,” said Jay McGraw, creator and executive producer. “Now 1,000 episodes later, we are still achieving our core mission and empowering people to make positive, informed decisions when it comes to their health. We’re grateful that this show has had a life-altering impact on the thousands of guests who’ve appeared on the show, as well as countless viewers who have benefitted from the information we provide.”
