Photo: Robin Marchant/GettyAl Rokeris back, and his absence has left a giant impression on his friends, fans and co-workers.TheToday Showanchorreturned to his post on Fridayafter a months-long health scare. Days later, he received praise from colleagueWillie Geistfor his incredible comeback.“Almeans so muchto all of us,” Geist, 47, said in conversation withEntertainment Tonight.TheSunday Today With Willie Geistlead added, “I could get emotional but I won’t, maybe I will. He’s so much more than our role model as a professional. He’s been my role model as a dad, as a husband, how to handle this thing as I step into theTodayshow, this role, what does it mean? He grounds us all.“Geist also called Roker, 68, the “heart and soul” ofToday, saying, “I’m just so happy Al’s in good health. And I think I and the whole country’s so happy he’s back on the screen. We missed our Al.“Nathan Congleton/NBCURoker made his returnasToday’sweatherman last Friday after beinghospitalized multiple timeswith blood clots in his lungs and legs. It was his first time on-air since early November.“I have missed you guys so very much,” Roker told his co-anchors upon returning. “You are my second family and it’s just great to be back — and wearing pants! It’s so much fun.““My heart is just bursting,” he continued. “I’m just so thrilled to see all of you and the crew. Right now I’m running on adrenaline.“He also shared further details about his hospitalization,including a seven-hour surgery. In addition to the blood clots, Roker revealed he had internal bleeding which resulted in losing “half my blood.““Al was a very, very, very sick man … most people didn’t know that, " Roker’s wife,Deborah Roberts, said during the episode, calling him a “living, breathing miracle.“RELATED VIDEO: Al Roker Shares New Details of His ‘Frightening’ Health Crisis and ‘Major’ 7-Hour Surgery"Two doctors led this brilliant team — it was a team — who had to figure out what was happening. He was a medical mystery for a couple of weeks. And it was the must tumultuous, frightening journey we have been on,” she added.Roker has been a staple onTodayas the program’s premier weather anchor since 1996, and previously made appearances as a substitute weathercaster from 1990 to 1995, filling in for the lateWillard Scottbefore his semiretirement.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Todayairs weekdays beginning at 7 a.m. ET on NBC.
Photo: Robin Marchant/Getty
Al Rokeris back, and his absence has left a giant impression on his friends, fans and co-workers.TheToday Showanchorreturned to his post on Fridayafter a months-long health scare. Days later, he received praise from colleagueWillie Geistfor his incredible comeback.“Almeans so muchto all of us,” Geist, 47, said in conversation withEntertainment Tonight.TheSunday Today With Willie Geistlead added, “I could get emotional but I won’t, maybe I will. He’s so much more than our role model as a professional. He’s been my role model as a dad, as a husband, how to handle this thing as I step into theTodayshow, this role, what does it mean? He grounds us all.“Geist also called Roker, 68, the “heart and soul” ofToday, saying, “I’m just so happy Al’s in good health. And I think I and the whole country’s so happy he’s back on the screen. We missed our Al.“Nathan Congleton/NBCURoker made his returnasToday’sweatherman last Friday after beinghospitalized multiple timeswith blood clots in his lungs and legs. It was his first time on-air since early November.“I have missed you guys so very much,” Roker told his co-anchors upon returning. “You are my second family and it’s just great to be back — and wearing pants! It’s so much fun.““My heart is just bursting,” he continued. “I’m just so thrilled to see all of you and the crew. Right now I’m running on adrenaline.“He also shared further details about his hospitalization,including a seven-hour surgery. In addition to the blood clots, Roker revealed he had internal bleeding which resulted in losing “half my blood.““Al was a very, very, very sick man … most people didn’t know that, " Roker’s wife,Deborah Roberts, said during the episode, calling him a “living, breathing miracle.“RELATED VIDEO: Al Roker Shares New Details of His ‘Frightening’ Health Crisis and ‘Major’ 7-Hour Surgery"Two doctors led this brilliant team — it was a team — who had to figure out what was happening. He was a medical mystery for a couple of weeks. And it was the must tumultuous, frightening journey we have been on,” she added.Roker has been a staple onTodayas the program’s premier weather anchor since 1996, and previously made appearances as a substitute weathercaster from 1990 to 1995, filling in for the lateWillard Scottbefore his semiretirement.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Todayairs weekdays beginning at 7 a.m. ET on NBC.
Al Rokeris back, and his absence has left a giant impression on his friends, fans and co-workers.
TheToday Showanchorreturned to his post on Fridayafter a months-long health scare. Days later, he received praise from colleagueWillie Geistfor his incredible comeback.
“Almeans so muchto all of us,” Geist, 47, said in conversation withEntertainment Tonight.
TheSunday Today With Willie Geistlead added, “I could get emotional but I won’t, maybe I will. He’s so much more than our role model as a professional. He’s been my role model as a dad, as a husband, how to handle this thing as I step into theTodayshow, this role, what does it mean? He grounds us all.”
Geist also called Roker, 68, the “heart and soul” ofToday, saying, “I’m just so happy Al’s in good health. And I think I and the whole country’s so happy he’s back on the screen. We missed our Al.”
Nathan Congleton/NBCU
Roker made his returnasToday’sweatherman last Friday after beinghospitalized multiple timeswith blood clots in his lungs and legs. It was his first time on-air since early November.
“I have missed you guys so very much,” Roker told his co-anchors upon returning. “You are my second family and it’s just great to be back — and wearing pants! It’s so much fun.”
“My heart is just bursting,” he continued. “I’m just so thrilled to see all of you and the crew. Right now I’m running on adrenaline.”
He also shared further details about his hospitalization,including a seven-hour surgery. In addition to the blood clots, Roker revealed he had internal bleeding which resulted in losing “half my blood.”
“Al was a very, very, very sick man … most people didn’t know that, " Roker’s wife,Deborah Roberts, said during the episode, calling him a “living, breathing miracle.”
RELATED VIDEO: Al Roker Shares New Details of His ‘Frightening’ Health Crisis and ‘Major’ 7-Hour Surgery
“Two doctors led this brilliant team — it was a team — who had to figure out what was happening. He was a medical mystery for a couple of weeks. And it was the must tumultuous, frightening journey we have been on,” she added.
Roker has been a staple onTodayas the program’s premier weather anchor since 1996, and previously made appearances as a substitute weathercaster from 1990 to 1995, filling in for the lateWillard Scottbefore his semiretirement.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Todayairs weekdays beginning at 7 a.m. ET on NBC.
source: people.com
