Fans Are Showering Al Roker With Love After He Posts Emotional Health Update

Fans Are Showering Al Roker With Love After He Posts Emotional Health Update
  • Today show anchor Al Roker is sharing an update on his health after returning home from a month-long hospitalization for blood clots.

  • The 68-year-old weatherman shared on Instagram that he’s “so thankful to be well enough” to celebrate Christmas with his family while recovering at home.

  • Roker doesn’t plan to return to Today just yet as he’s focused on regaining his strength.


Today show weatherman Al Roker is back on the mend—and fully embracing the Christmas spirit with his family!

The 68-year-old recently gave an update on his health following his hospitalization for blood clots last month, sharing a series of photos on Instagram of his family decorating and posing in front of the Christmas tree—including his wife Deborah Roberts, along with their kids Leila and Nick. “So thankful to be well enough to decorate the Roker Family #christmastree,” he wrote in the caption.

Fans, of course, made sure to flood the comments with messages of support for Roker. “So happy you’re home and doing better…Enjoy the holidays with your family ??,” one user wrote.

There were plenty of get-well and holiday wishes for the Today anchor, too. “Miss you Al on Today. Praying for a full recovery. ??????,” one fan commented, while another wrote, “So happy you are on the mend Al. Merry Christmas and looking forward to seeing you back at Today in the new year!! Slow and steady wins the race!!”

Earlier this month, Roker returned home after a four-week-long stay in the hospital. He was first hospitalized in late November for blood clots in his legs and lungs and was released near Thanksgiving in time to celebrate with his family—only to be “rushed” back to the hospital within 24 hours of his release due to complications. Unfortunately, this forced the anchor to miss Macy’s Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting.

Thankfully, he was able to return home on December 8 just in time to gear up for Christmas, taking to Instagram to share the good news.

“Home! So incredibly grateful to family, friends, medical folks, @todayshow family, and all your thoughts and prayers,” Roker wrote at the time, alongside snaps of himself in his family’s kitchen, including ones together with his wife and daughter.

Of course, there’s been no shortage of support for Roker from his fans and Today colleagues on his road to recovery. The Today cast and crew—including co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie—even made sure to bring Roker some festive holiday cheer to his home last week, surprising the weather anchor by gathering on his doorstep to sing Christmas carols.

Roker later made sure to express his gratitude for the emotional surprise in an Instagram post. “Words cannot express how much I love my @todayshow family for coming over to do a little caroling including a special rendition of ‘I’ll Be Home For #Christmas,’” he wrote.

Roker also appeared on Today via a virtual video call last week to share an update on his health with his colleagues and viewers, admitting that his recent health struggles have been a difficult time for him—but that the outpouring of support and love has helped bolster his spirit while he’s on the mend.

“Listen, it’s been a tough slog. I’m not going to deny this,” he said. "It’s been the hardest one yet…It gives you a profound sense of gratitude for this outpouring of prayers and thanks. I’m a very fortunate person.”

As for when he will return to Today, Roker shared that he’s not able to resume his duties at the NBC morning show quite yet as he’s still focused on regaining his strength.

“You lose a certain amount of muscle mass for every week you’re in the hospital, and I was in the hospital for four weeks,” he explained. “It’s just a certain amount of weakness. I’m doing physical therapy every day, occupational therapy. I’ve got to just get my strength back.”

We’re hoping to see Roker back on the Today show very soon—but in the meantime, we’re wishing him a speedy recovery!

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