When Marina Sirtis knew Star Trek: The Next Generation impacted lives

Marina Sirtis considers herself blessed to have been in  Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation struggled to find its footing in its first season. With acrimony going on behind the scenes and writers leaving, whether or not the series would continue was up in the air. But it did manage to survive into the next season and the next as more and more fans discovered it and became connected to the series. Marina Sirtis, who portrayed Counselor Deanna Troi, during all seven seasons of the show, considered it to be one of the best jobs ever according to Hollywood Outbreak’s report from a fan convention.

But during the time the series was being filmed, no one really knew how much of an impact TNG was having or would have on people. No one except the people watching it, those who were struggling to get through something in their lives. To those people, something as simple as a television show can mean the difference between a good day and a bad. And during a reunion convention a few years ago, Sirtis and the other members of the cast learned how TNG really impacted one man’s life, and it brought them all to tears.

Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Marina Sirtis shares a moving story about a fan

At the fan convention, the cast was approached by a veteran from the audience who was in a wheelchair. A double above-the knee-amputee, he had been a medic in the Middle East, and as he told his story, Sirtis realized that she had been a part of something that really did have an effect on people in a good way.

The veteran told the cast that The Next Generation had saved his life. He had to have 150 surgeries, and during that time, the only thing that kept him going was watching TNG.

"“Well, we were all in tears, and so I realize now that I was part of something bigger than me. I was part of something that really did have an effect on people in a good way. And it’s one of the greatest blessings and privileges in my life that I was involved in ST: TNG. I’ve very proud of it now. So proud of it.”"

The story isn’t surprising considering how other fans have shared their experiences about the impact of TNG on their lives. Jason Weiland wrote a particularly moving essay about how the series literally saved his life. Marina Sirtis and all the other cast from Star Trek: The Next Generation have every reason to be proud of that series. Not only did it change lives when it aired, it’s still changing lives today.