Fans had expressed concern for renowned Today Show weatherman Al Roker when he revealed he had prostate cancer.
The nation’s favorite weatherman kept his fans up to date on his health issues, but he could not attend the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
For almost 25 years, the acclaimed weatherman has been on The Today Show.
On the other hand, his absence from the show has torn the hearts of his ardent fans, and he has issued a much-needed update on his health.
As speculation about Roker’s location grew throughout the holiday season, he took to Instagram to disclose that he was receiving treatment for blood clots at a hospital.
“I was admitted to the hospital last week because of a blood clot in my leg, which caused some clots to go to my lungs,” he wrote.
On the other hand, Roker revealed that he would be leaving the hospital on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2022.
“This is how I would describe the Thanksgiving parade. Prepared to leave the hospital “It’s time to leave this taco stand,” Roker said in an Instagram video as he was leaving the hospital.
According to Hematology Oncology, cancer patients are four times more likely than the general population to have a blood clot occurrence, hence blood clots are common among them.
Roker also uploaded a photo of himself watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from home on Thanksgiving Day.
“I returned home in time to see a small bit of the #macysThanksgivingdayparade.” “Missing being next to @savannahguthrie and @hodakotb,” he captioned the photo, looking happy.
Later that day, Roker shared photos of himself with his family, writing, “So extremely #thankful to be able to be home for #thanksgiving #dinner with #family.”
On November 30, 2022, Roker was scheduled to appear in the 2022 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting special alongside Today anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Craig Melvin. However, while he was still recuperating, Mario Lopez, the actor, stepped in.
He was reportedly taken back to the hospital the day after Thanksgiving due to blood clots, but he returned home on December 8, 2022.
“Home! I want to thank my family, friends, the medical community, the @todayshow family, and everyone who sent good thoughts and prayers,” he wrote on Instagram.
On November 18, 2022, he jokingly referred to his treatment as “medical whack-a-mole” in an Instagram post to his 800,000 followers.
In his update, he stated that he was “fortunate to be receiving outstanding medical treatment and is on the road to recovery.”
Roker has been relying on his wife and family as he battles illness and its consequences.
He is pleased to be the father of three children: Courtney, Leila, and Nicholas.
Roker has two children with Deborah Roberts, Leila and Nicholas, and Courtney from his previous marriage to Alice Bell. After Roker was admitted to the hospital in late November, Roberts provided a tragic report on his condition.
Courtney, 35, is married and has a successful catering business during the day.
Leila, 24, moved to Paris to pursue a career in journalism because she shared her father’s passion to work in the media.
Finally, Nicholas, 17, is enrolled in school and eager to begin college.
Roker also delivered an update to viewers in a tribute to his friend and former co-host Jay Leno, who was injured in a vehicle accident earlier this month.
Roker shared a photo of himself and Leno from ten years ago, before Al had stomach bypass surgery to help him lose weight after rising to 340 pounds in 2002. In the photograph, Roker was unrecognizable.
“We wish Jay Leno, one of the kindest and most compassionate persons on the planet, a speedy recovery,” the captions read. “Jay, please be well soon.”
