A Visit to the Dr. Oz Show

Tracy M. is one of the most interesting and most loving people I have the opportunity to work with. She is full of life and loves to make everyone around her feel good. Her journey to the Dr.Oz Show was something I had the pleasure sharing with her. It started a few months back when Tracy was watching the show, as she does every day without fail. She loves to try out some of his show’s suggestions and really, really thinks, “He’s so-o-o-o-o cute”.  Well, she had the dream of being in on his show and asked if it would be possible. Staff assured her that anything is possible, which set the wheels into motion.

Because Tracy gets such joy for watching the show, it gave staff pleasure to arrange for Tracy to get to the show.  Calls to the show were made, tickets were ordered, and Tracy learned that her dream was about to become a reality. Tracy was more than excited! She would brag to all her friends that she was going to New York to see Dr. Oz! Each day when she returned home from her day program going to the show was all she could talk about. Tracy had never been to New York so she would get to experience being there as well as seeing Dr.Oz.  Nov. 21, 2011 was the big day!

Tracy woke up beaming at the thought of heading to NYC.  Both the program director and the program manager would accompany Tracy and share her adventure.  Tracy made sure that we were all prepared to go. Along the drive, we sang songs and talked about what types of things she would ask Dr.Oz if she got the opportunity to meet him. Parking an accessible van in NYC was a challenge but we persevered and after an hour found a parking garage.

As soon as you got out of the van, Tracy’s face lit up and she took in all the sites on the way to Rockefeller Plaza. We located the studio and we were finally headed onto the set of the Dr. Oz Show.  Once inside the studio, we met with wonderful producers and people working for the show who made sure that Tracy had the best experience possible. When the warm-up comedian came on before the show to give us the “run down” of how things worked, Tracy really got excited, knowing that she was just minutes away from seeing Dr. Oz himself. The time had come, they gave us the cue to clap and give a warm welcome for Dr. Oz, and boy, did Tracy ever. She smiled and laughed…talk about making someone’s day!  The topic of the show was on the EPA and what is in our drinking water. Tracy seemed to enjoy it and when they asked the audience to participate, she did.

We were not allowed to take photos inside of the show but the experience itself was one she will not forget. Once the show was done, Tracy took some pictures outside the studio and got to see Radio City Music Hall, the famous “Tree of Rockefeller Plaza” (which they light up to signify the start of the holidays season), and Times Square.  When Tracy was asked how she enjoyed herself, with the biggest smile on her face she simply replied, “I want to go again!”