
Al Roker Returns to Today Show 2 Months After Health Scare
Al Roker Returns to Today Show 2 Months After Health Scare
Lovable weatherman and TV personality, Al Roker has returned back to the NBC Today studio after a recent health scare.
Last week, Roker walked back on the set, smiling as he walked on the set greeted by co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb.
“I have missed you guys so very much,” he stated to the pair. “You are my second family and it’s just great to be back — and wearing pants! It’s so much fun.”
It is the weatherman’s first appearance in the studio since being hospitalized in November. The 68-year-old returned weeks after he admitted to being in the hospital for blood clots in his legs and lungs. He was absent from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and for the first time in 27 years, we didn’t get to see him and his cheeriness on the television screen.
“The countdown is finally over. Al is back in studio with us for the first time in more than two months!”
The countdown is finally over. Al is back in studio with us for the first time in more than two months! 😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/rvPbuxCcEf
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 6, 2023
“My heart is just bursting,” he said. “I’m just so thrilled to see all of you and the crew. Right now I’m running on adrenaline.”
Roker was stricken with COVID-19 in September, and according to Today, he revealed he was dealing with “two complicating things” — blood clots that developed within him after he contracted the coronavirus, as well as internal bleeding.
He was placed in an intensive care unit — in particular the surgical ICU, he stated.
In a recent segment, Al’s gastroenterologist, Dr. Felice H. Schnoll-Sussman spoke to the TV show about his condition.
“(We) were extraordinarily concerned about Al. Extraordinarily concerned. He had a life-threatening experience. I mean, there’s just no doubt about that.”
Roker had to have surgery. The medical team responsible for his care discovered that he had two bleeding ulcers. They resectioned his colon, took out his gallbladder, and then had to redo his duodenum, part of the small intestine.
The surgery took seven hours to complete.
“I went into for one operation, I got four free,” Al joked. “I really do feel good. I’m sure I’m going to collapse like a stone after this is over because this is the first work I’ve done. “It’s been a journey.”
He does credit his wife, Deborah Roberts for helping him through this.
“Thank God for Deborah. She basically shielded me from a lot of this. I had no idea how sick I was. I am a living example of ignorance is bliss. … I was able to put all my energy into just recuperating because I didn’t know how bad off I was.”
Al Roker Returns to Today Show 2 Months After Health Scare