After Al Roker revealed he’s taken his last walk after sharing that he will be absent from The Today Show due to knee replacement surgery, the famous weatherman is sharing an update with his fans.
After calling into the Today Show to talk with his colleagues on air on May 15, Roker revealed that he is now home from the hospital to continue his recovery. However, he admits his road to recovery has been somewhat difficult.
“It’s Monday, I’m home from the hospital,” he told the Today Show crew. “Just another day!”
“This one is a little more complicated because it’s what they call a revision; it was a replacement of a replacement, so they had to take stuff out, put stuff in, so it was a bit of a bear,” he said. “So we’ve just been kind of hanging out. Chilling out, not doing anything — which I know, a lot of people find hard to believe, but in fact, that is the case.”
And while the Roker family didn’t get to celebrate wife Deborah Roberts in the way they traditionally do for Mother’s Day, they were still able to all be together.
“I was being wildly optimistic that we were going to go to one of our [favorite restaurants], Daniel, for Mother’s Day, which is kind of our tradition. But that was not realistic, so we ordered in some quiche and some stuff and just had a nice meal in the backyard here,” Roker explained. “Which was nice, because it was a gorgeous day yesterday.”
Now, Roker is focusing on physical therapy so he can get back to the show. “I still don’t know, I’m hoping, maybe sometime in the next two weeks to be back. We’ll just play it by ear every day. And that’s the thing. And yes, I know I’m not going to use back before I have to.”
As Mamas Uncut previously reported, Roker took to Instagram last week to share a video of himself taking a stroll through NYC’s beautiful Central Park. The famous weatherman admitted it was his “last walk” for a while.
“I’m a little less than three days away from getting this left knee replaced,” he shared in the video. “It’s a replacement of a replacement so I am kind of limping through.”
“This is probably my last walk of any significance before the knee, but it was just such a gorgeous day I had to get out and enjoy it.” The Today Show favorite explained that this will be a total knee replacement after undergoing the same surgery back in 2016.
On May 10, Roker shared a second video of himself recovering from the surgery inside the hospital walking through the hallways with the aid of a walker.
“Up and walking this morning on the #newknee #stepbystep Wearing a negative pressure pump to help facilitate wound healing,” Al wrote! Way to go, Al!
Roker admitted walking had become very difficult for him over the last several months. This surgery will hopefully help him with those difficulties after he recovers.
As Mamas Uncut previously reported, Roker had been absent from The Today Show for an extended period of time in November 2022 after he endured a scary health issue. Roker spent several days in the hospital after blood clots traveled from his legs to his lungs.
It was revealed on Thanksgiving Day that he was able to go home to celebrate with his family. However, shortly after going home, Roker was admitted back into the hospital again for further medical assistance.
Eventually, Roker got to return home in time for the Holidays where he has remained since. And now, his Today Show colleagues are revealing that Roker is coming back to Studio 1A.
On January 6, Roker finally returned to the Today Show where he belongs! Craig Melvin was excited about the news saying, “everyone will be back together.” To which Savannah Guthrie added, the show is “not the same without Al. Our sunshine is coming back Friday morning.”
This was also Roker’s first time in 27 years to miss co-anchoring the parade.
“So many of you have been thoughtfully asking where I’ve been,” Roker said in one of his first statements at the time. “Last week I was admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in my leg which sent some clots into my lungs.”
“After some medical whack-a-mole, I am so fortunate to be getting terrific medical care and on the way to recovery. Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers and hope to see you soon. Have a great weekend, everyone.”
Many of his Today Show colleagues took to the comments section of his post to wish him a speedy recovery.
Hoda Kotb wrote, “Al Roker– hurry back to us… counting the days xoxoxo.” And Jenna Bush Hager added, “Love you Al! Hurry home. You are missed and loved beyond measure!”
Dylan Dryer said, “Love you Al and praying every day for a speedy recovery!” And Craig Melvin wrote, “Love you brother…can’t wait to have you back!”
And Savannah Guthrie said, “You’re the strongest person we know. We miss you and will see you soon!!”
“He’s in good spirits, we’ve all talked to him,” said Guthrie said when explaining Roker absents initially. “He’s in great spirits,” Kotb further noted.
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