LI Woman With Dwarfism Stars In New TLC Show 'I Am Shauna Rae'

CORAM, NY—On a new TLC series, Coram native Shauna Lesick describes her situation as being "a woman, a 22-year-old woman stuck in the body of an eight-year old." Lesick, who stars in the new series called "I Am Shauna Rae" battled brain cancer as a baby and was left with a damaged pituitary gland and a height of three feet ten inches.

"Even though I physically can't grow up I desperately want to be treated like a grown-up," she says on the show.

The show airs Tuesday evenings. So far four episodes have aired, showing her daily life and struggles dating, socializing and trying to do things like get tattoos or drink at bars.

The show was filmed at Lesick's Coram home where she lives with her parents and around Long Island. Lesick's mother and stepfather, Patty and Mark Schrankel feature prominently in the show, along with her two sisters. The family attempt to strike a balance between encouraging Lesick's independence and protecting her, a dynamic the show's producers and TLC executives thought would be relatable to an audience.

"When I first heard about Shauna Rae, I couldn't stop asking questions. I was fascinated by her
life and it became quite clear TLC needed to tell her story,” Howard Lee, President of TLC, said in a news release.

"Hers is one with its own unique set of challenges and she faces those with courage, heart, and a punch of sass."

The show premiered on Jan. 11, as part of the network's Tuesday family-friendly programming.