Tessa Quinn
Al Roker, the beloved weatherman and anchor of NBC's TODAY show, was hospitalized with blood clots in his legs and lungs in November 2022. The 68-year-old revealed his health condition on Instagram, explaining his absence from the show and reassuring viewers that he was receiving excellent medical care and was on the road to recovery. Roker's hospitalization and subsequent recovery journey received an outpouring of support and well-wishes from his co-hosts, fans, and family.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age | 68 |
| Date of Hospitalization | November 2022 |
| Reason for Hospitalization | Blood clots in his leg and lungs |
| Health Status | Recovering |
| Surgery | Knee replacement surgery in May 2023 |
| Prostate Cancer Diagnosis | November 2020 |
| Prostate Cancer Surgery | Yes |
| Prostate Cancer Survivorship | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Al Roker's health scare in 2023
In 2023, Al Roker reflected on his health scare from the previous year, when he was hospitalized for blood clots. In November 2022, the beloved "TODAY" show weatherman and anchor was admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in his leg, which sent some clots into his lungs. This caused him to miss hosting the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in 27 years.
Roker's health issues were quite severe, and his family initially shielded him from knowing how sick he really was. His wife, Deborah Roberts, and younger daughter, Leila Roker, only told him about the seriousness of his condition after he had returned home from the hospital. Roberts described the ordeal as a roller coaster ride, and at one point, the family feared they might lose him while doctors struggled to find the source of his internal bleeding.
Roker's recovery was a long road, and he experienced several complications that led to readmissions to the hospital. However, he remained positive and motivated to return to work and his usual activities. In May 2023, he underwent knee replacement surgery, and by November, he was feeling back to his old self, hosting the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade again and reflecting on his health scare a year prior.
Roker has been open about his health struggles in the past, including his battle with prostate cancer, which he revealed in 2020. He has used his platform to raise awareness about issues affecting men's health, and his transparency has been praised by fans and colleagues alike.
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Blood clots in legs and lungs
In November 2022, Al Roker was hospitalized due to a blood clot in his leg that spread to his lungs. This condition is known as a pulmonary embolism (PE), a type of blood clot that develops in a blood vessel, often in the leg, and then travels to a lung artery, blocking blood flow. Venous clots most commonly occur in the deep veins of the legs, known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is the most frequent cause of pulmonary embolism. Once a clot forms in the deep veins of the leg, there is a risk of part of it breaking off and travelling to the lungs.
A pulmonary embolism is a life-threatening condition that can lead to sudden death if not treated promptly. Symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include shortness of breath, chest pain, and coughing. Treatment options for pulmonary embolism include anticoagulants (blood thinners) to prevent clots from growing and new clots from forming, and fibrinolytic therapy (clot busters) to break down clots in life-threatening situations.
It is important to seek immediate medical attention if you experience any symptoms of a blood clot in the leg or lung, as prompt treatment is crucial for a positive outcome.
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Roker's Instagram post about his hospitalisation
On November 18, 2022, Al Roker, the 68-year-old weatherman and anchor of the TODAY show, took to Instagram to share that he had been hospitalized amid his recent absence from the show. In his Instagram post, Roker wrote, "So many of you have been thoughtfully asking where I’ve been. Last week I was admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in my leg, which sent some clots into my lungs." He added that he was grateful to be receiving terrific medical care and was on the road to recovery. Roker also thanked his well-wishers and expressed his hope to return soon.
Roker's Instagram post received thousands of comments, including one from his wife, Deborah Roberts, who expressed her gratitude for the top-notch medical care and support they had received. Roker's co-hosts, including Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, also sent their well-wishes and commented on his post.
Roker's hospitalization in 2022 was not his first health struggle. In November 2020, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and underwent surgery. He chose to publicly reveal his diagnosis to highlight the fact that 1 in 7 African American men and 1 in 9 men overall will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
In the months following his initial hospitalization for blood clots, Roker experienced some complications and was readmitted to the hospital for further treatment. Despite these setbacks, he remained positive and focused on his recovery, even sharing his health updates on social media. By November 2023, Roker had made a full recovery and was excited to return to hosting the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, an event he had missed hosting the previous year due to his health issues.
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Roker's wife and daughter initially hid the severity of his illness
Al Roker, the beloved weatherman and anchor of the TODAY show, was admitted to the hospital in November 2022 due to blood clots in his legs, which spread to his lungs. This health scare left him unable to host the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in 27 years.
Roker's wife, Deborah Roberts, an ABC correspondent, expressed her gratitude for the "top-notch medical care" and the outpouring of support they received. Roker's daughter, Leila, also shared a selfie on her Instagram story, thanking friends and family for their concern. While Roker initially kept his fans and followers informed about his condition, his wife and daughter shielded him from the full severity of his illness.
Upon returning home after his hospital stay, Roker learned the truth about how dire his situation had been. In an interview, he shared:
> "I was home for maybe two or three weeks, and as we were decompressing and debriefing, Deborah and Leila talked about how difficult and bad it was. (Then) my brother talked about it... I still was not anywhere near 100%, but I certainly was much better and once I knew, I felt like, well, that was bad, but I'm past that."
Roberts, his wife, further elaborated on the family's harrowing experience, stating that they "really did think we were going to lose him" while the medical team struggled to identify the source of his internal bleeding. Despite the challenges, Roker maintained a positive outlook, focusing on his recovery and looking forward rather than dwelling on the past.
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Roker's prostate cancer diagnosis and surgery in 2020
Al Roker, the "TODAY" show weatherman and anchor, revealed his prostate cancer diagnosis in November 2020. He has since used his platform to encourage people, especially men of color, to get tested. African-American men are 50% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from it.
Roker's prostate cancer diagnosis came with a Gleason score of 7+, indicating a higher risk of cancer aggression and progression. Shortly after his diagnosis, he underwent surgery and later shared a positive update, stating that he had no evidence of cancer but would continue to be monitored. Roker took some time off work following his diagnosis and surgery, returning to the "TODAY" show after receiving a clean bill of health.
Roker's decision to publicly share his diagnosis and treatment journey inspired others, including Clarence Seegars, who shared his own story of getting diagnosed with prostate cancer. Roker's story also highlighted the importance of screening for prostate cancer, especially within the African-American community.
In addition to his prostate cancer journey, Roker has been open about other health struggles, including his weight loss journey and gastric bypass surgery in 2002. He has also experienced health scares, such as blood clots in his legs and lungs in November 2022, which led to him being hospitalized and missing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade that year. Roker's health issues have served as a reminder of the importance of self-care and recovery, and he has been transparent about his journey to help others.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, in November 2022, Al Roker was hospitalized with blood clots in his legs, which spread to his lungs.
No, Al Roker only learned about the severity of his health issues after he left the hospital. His wife, Deborah Roberts, and younger daughter, Leila Roker, initially shielded him from knowing the truth.
Al Roker's co-hosts commented on his Instagram post, wishing him well. Hoda Kotb said, "Al Roker—hurry back to us...counting the days". Savannah Guthrie said, "You're the strongest person we know. We miss you and will see you soon".
Al Roker was motivated to return to work and focus on his recovery. He underwent knee replacement surgery in May and looked forward to getting better.
Yes, in addition to his hospitalization for blood clots, Al Roker also underwent surgery for prostate cancer in November 2020. He chose to publicly reveal his diagnosis to raise awareness about the disease.
