Newest The Good Doctor Episode Had a Real Double-Lung Transplant Patient
There is an uncanny similarity in the stories of an actress and her character.
After the dramatic storyline with Lea's second pregnancy ended with a sigh of relief from The Good Doctor fandom, the show seemed to ease up on the life-and-death situations of the main cast and focus on patient stories, which is a welcome change.
Thanks to these stories, guest stars are just as important to any medical show as the main cast. The most shocking medical cases shown in various medical dramas can become industry legends that pop up in multiple fan discussions.
And one of those stories in the latest episode of The Good Doctor, 39 Differences, has a chance to make history thanks to a very special guest star. In the episode, Dr. Lim tries to save her patient who is dying from a serious illness.
The girl, named Roses, needs a double lung transplant due to longstanding cystic fibrosis, but when the donor lungs finally arrive, it turns out they can't be used because of pneumonia. As Lim works her magic to heal the lungs, the girl's condition worsens.
Now, the fact that is bound to take viewers on an emotional rollercoaster is that Roses is played by Elspeth Arbow, the young actress who underwent two double lung transplants for the exact same condition. Elspeth and her role seem like a match made in heaven.
But surprisingly, the patient's story was not written specifically for the actress. She actually came to director Cayman Grant's mind after the episode's script was written.
Arbow and Grant met at an acting seminar years ago, around the time the girl underwent her first transplant. And she made such a lasting impression that Grant couldn't pass up the chance to work with her. For Elspeth, however, it was not an easy decision, as it meant reliving her horrific experiences on screen.
"When I first read the script, I cried," Arbow said (via CBC).
Fortunately for The Good Doctor audience, Elspeth agreed to audition, and her tape was so good that she was cast within days. Of course, working on the set became a challenging task.
Rose's story is very similar to Arbow's, including the fact that her mother has vlogged her journey to recovery. But the actress is clearly as much of a fighter as her character, and that made for a beautiful performance.