Inside Al Roker’s recovery from ‘very scary’ hospitalization

Count his blessings. Al-Roker is grateful to be on the mend after his recent health crisis, a source reveals exclusively in the new issue of We weekly.

“Al’s recent hospitalization was very scary. [He] considers himself so lucky to have received prompt treatment and knows that at the end of the day he is lucky to be alive,” the insider said. We 68 year old man Today’s show meteorologist. “He’s been so brave throughout, never complaining or feeling too sorry for himself, always wanting to know how others are doing even when he’s at his lowest. Right now, he is following all the doctors advice.

The BNC News presenter – who has run NBC’s morning show since 1996 – had missed several shows from November 2022 after doctors found he had blood clots.

“Many of you thoughtfully asked me where I was. Last week I was admitted to hospital with a blood clot in my leg which sent clots into my lungs,” Roker wrote. via Instagram at the time. “After a few medical beatings, I’m so lucky to have amazing medical care and be on the mend. Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers and I hope to see you soon.”

The New York native ultimately had to undergo surgery, which caused Roker to miss Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in November for the first time in 27 years.

The television journalist was admitted to hospital a few days later with complications.

“It’s been hard work, I’m not going to deny that,” Roker said during a virtual appearance on Today at the time. “It’s been the toughest yet, and you know I’ve had my share of surgeries. I do physical therapy every day, occupational therapy. I just need to recover my strength. … I feel good. I feel strong. Every day I feel a little better. »

The meteorologist – who was married to Deborah Roberts since September 1995 – eventually returned to Today January 6th.

“I lost half my blood. [My doctors] were trying to figure out where he was,’ he said on his first comeback show, revealing that his surgeons discovered he had two bleeding ulcers and found they had to resect his colon and remove his gallbladder . “I feel really good. I’m sure I’m going to crumble like a stone after it’s over because it’s the first job I’ve done. It’s been a journey.

He continued at the time, “Thank goodness for Deborah. She basically protected me from a lot of that. I had no idea how sick I was. I’m a living example of ignorance, that’s bliss. I was able to put all my energy into recovering because I didn’t know how bad I was.

Roker – who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020, which required surgery – has since remained focused on getting back to his feet. He’s ‘trying’ to regain the weight he lost amid health scares in a ‘sustainable and healthy way’, source says We.

“There is still a long way to go until he recovers,” the insider adds, noting that Roker was “so happy” to return to Today. “He is taking part in physiotherapy and staying as active as possible, exercising a lot but not overdoing it. … He is very happy and grateful to be slowly returning to normal.

For more on the Roker’s recovery, watch the video above and grab the latest issue of We Weekly, on newsstands now.