If you were a fan of the 1990s medical drama ER, chances are you’re familiar with Dr. Kerry Weaver. Played by actress Laura Innes, the character was famous for using a forearm crutch to navigate because of a limp. While not a disabled person herself, Innes’ depiction of a disabled doctor was still a big deal at the time. At first, the show’s producer didn’t want to reveal the malady Weaver had, but in Season 11 the viewers found out that Weaver’s limp was caused by congenital hip dysplasia. In the following season, she had corrective surgery that allowed her to walk without the use of a cane. Amazingly, the surgery was driven by Innes’ real life health issues. As a result of using a cane and faking a limp for so many years on the series, the bottom of her spine began to curve on one side. Rather than opt for surgery herself, Innes sought physical therapy and chiropractic treatment to correct her spinal alignment. She was required to stop using the cane, which forced producers to work the character's surgery into the show. In January 2007, Innes left ER in the middle of Season 13, having appeared in a total of 249 episodes. Today she is an advocate for the disabled community, using her role as a director to help employ disabled people.
