Rachael Morrissey, a Knox College student from the class of ’15, experienced a remarkable opportunity when she appeared as a guest on the popular medical talk show, The Doctors. This appearance placed her alongside The Doctors Tv Show Cast, sharing her personal journey of resilience and hope with a national audience.
The Doctors program highlighted Rachael’s story of being born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, a congenital condition where the upper lip and the roof of the mouth do not completely fuse together during fetal development. From a young age, Rachael faced numerous medical interventions, undergoing over 16 surgical procedures to correct the condition and improve her quality of life.
“My first surgery took place when I was just three months old. It was to close both my lip and palate,” Rachael explained. “Following that, there were procedures focused on structural adjustments, and I wore braces for twelve years to ensure my teeth were properly aligned.”
Despite the extensive treatments, a subsequent surgery aimed at providing permanent implants for her front teeth was unfortunately unsuccessful. However, fate had a different plan in store for Rachael, connecting her to an unlikely advocate – a French bulldog named Lentil.
Lentil, who was also born with a bilateral cleft palate, became an internet sensation. His owner created a Facebook page dedicated to raising awareness about cleft conditions. This heartwarming initiative caught the attention of the producers at The Doctors.
“Initially, The Doctors team was interested in featuring Lentil’s story,” Morrissey recounted. “Their original plan was to bring Lentil and his owner to California for the show’s taping.”
Rachael and Lentil had already formed a connection online, bonding over their shared experience. Rachael admired Lentil’s role in bringing positive attention to the cleft community and had been communicating with Lentil and his owner via Skype and email.
“When the producers of The Doctors TV show cast inquired about local supporters or fans of Lentil who could potentially appear on the show, Lentil’s owner made a heartwarming request,” Morrissey shared. “She said, ‘If you don’t invite Rachael, we won’t participate in the show.’ She wanted to surprise me, knowing that I had always wished to meet Lentil in person.”
The show’s production team filmed for a day at Rachael’s home in Peoria, Illinois, capturing her daily life and experiences. Following this, Rachael and her mother were invited to Hollywood, California, to participate in the studio filming of the episode. During the show, Rachael received an incredible surprise: it was announced that she would receive complimentary dental implants for her final surgery, with her surgeon generously agreeing to waive the associated fees.
“This is truly life-altering,” Rachael expressed, overwhelmed by the generosity and support.
Reflecting on her experience on the television show alongside The Doctors TV show cast, she described it as “an incredible and surreal experience. It felt very out of my comfort zone. I am not accustomed to having professionals do my hair and makeup, and being in front of ten cameras. It was an exhilarating adrenaline rush, yet also quite nerve-wracking.”
Currently a junior at Knox College, double majoring in political science and Spanish, Rachael has aspirations to attend law school. During the preceding summer, she gained valuable professional experience as an intern at Prairie State Legal Services in Peoria, Illinois.
Published on October 25, 2013
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