
Al Roker, the beloved weatherman and host of the Today show, was hospitalized in November 2022 due to blood clots in his legs that spread to his lungs. This health scare caused him to miss the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which he had hosted consistently for 27 years. Roker was briefly released from the hospital in time for Thanksgiving dinner with his family but was re-admitted soon after due to internal bleeding. This second hospitalization forced him to skip the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Al Roker |
| Occupation | Weatherman, TODAY show host |
| Age | 68 |
| Reason for Hospitalization | Blood clot in the leg that traveled to the lungs |
| Surgery | Seven-hour surgery to resection his colon; gallbladder removed; duodenum redone |
| Hospital | Uptown Manhattan Hospital |
| Family | Wife, ABC journalist Deborah Roberts; daughter |
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What You'll Learn

Al Roker's smartwatch alerted him to a health issue
Al Roker, the beloved TODAY show weatherman, revealed that his smartwatch alerted him to a health issue that turned out to be a major medical scare. During a July 25, 2024, segment on the TODAY show, Roker shared that his smartwatch indicated a heart rate of 160 beats per minute when he was simply walking up the stairs. This prompted him to call his doctor and seek medical attention.
Roker's health scare resulted in him being rushed to the hospital, where he underwent a seven-hour surgery and spent weeks in and out of the hospital. The severity of his condition and his age may have contributed to a more challenging recovery process. During his hospitalization, surgeons resectioned his colon, removed his gallbladder, and re-did his duodenum, a part of the small intestine.
Roker's positive attitude helped him through this difficult time. Reflecting on his experience, he shared his determination to focus on getting better and moving forward. Roker's health scare served as a reminder of the potential life-saving capabilities of smartwatches and their role in alerting individuals to potential health issues.
In addition to his initial hospitalization, Roker experienced a second health scare that led to him being rushed back to the hospital. On November 18, 2022, Roker revealed on Instagram that he had suffered a blood clot in his leg that sent some clots into his lungs. As a result, he was hospitalized during the Thanksgiving Day Parade and watched the parade from his hospital room.
Roker's health issues caused him to miss hosting the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2022, and he was rushed back to the hospital the day after spending Thanksgiving with his family. While the specific reason for his return to the hospital is unclear, sources reported that his wife, ABC journalist Deborah Roberts, was by his side, and he had his family's support during this challenging time.
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He was rushed to hospital for a second time
Al Roker, the beloved 68-year-old Today show host and meteorologist, was rushed to the hospital for a second time on Friday, just a day after being released on Thursday in time for Thanksgiving dinner with his family. Roker had initially been hospitalized after a smartwatch alerted him to an irregular heart rate of 160 beats per minute while climbing stairs. The next day, he experienced vomiting and severe pain, and it was discovered that he had a blood clot in his leg that had travelled to his lungs. This condition, known as atrial fibrillation, required hospitalization and caused Roker to miss hosting the Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in 27 years.
Roker's second trip to the hospital occurred on Friday, when he was stretchered out of his Upper East Side home. His wife, ABC journalist Deborah Roberts, was by his side and frantically tried to retrieve her phone from their malfunctioning Tesla. Roker was taken by ambulance to an Uptown Manhattan hospital, where he remained surrounded by his family. Unfortunately, this second hospitalization caused him to miss the lighting of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center on Wednesday night.
The specific reason for Roker's second hospitalization is unclear. However, his positive attitude and determination to recover have been noted. Reflecting on his medical journey, Roker maintained a resilient mindset, stating, "well, what are you going to do? I'm just going to get better, and here we go, it's next year."
Roker's health scare in 2022 came two years after he publicly revealed his battle with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. In addition to impacting his work commitments, his hospitalizations also prompted him to skip hosting the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2022.
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He underwent a seven-hour surgery
Al Roker, the beloved weatherman and Today show host, was rushed to the hospital after a major health scare. Roker had noticed that his smartwatch readings were off, showing a heart rate of 160 beats per minute when he was walking up the stairs. The next day, he experienced vomiting and severe pain.
Roker underwent a seven-hour surgery to address multiple health issues. He had two bleeding ulcers, which required the resection of his colon. In addition, surgeons removed his gallbladder and re-did his duodenum, a part of the small intestine. The procedure was extensive, and his recovery was likely challenging due to his age.
The seven-hour surgery was necessary to address Roker's serious health issues. The resection of his colon and the adjustments to his small intestine were major procedures. The removal of his gallbladder is also a significant surgery, as the gallbladder is an organ that stores bile produced by the liver and aids in digestion.
The impact of these surgeries on Roker's health and well-being was significant. The procedures addressed life-threatening issues and required a prolonged hospital stay. Roker's positive attitude and determination to recover played a crucial role in his healing process. He expressed his optimism, stating that he was focused on getting better and moving forward.
Roker's seven-hour surgery was a critical step in addressing his health issues. The procedures were complex and intensive, requiring specialized medical expertise. His recovery process was likely challenging, and he had to take a break from his hosting duties, including missing the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2022.
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He had to miss the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting
Al Roker, the beloved TODAY show weatherman, was forced to take a break from the show due to a major health scare. Roker underwent a seven-hour surgery and spent weeks in and out of the hospital. He had to miss hosting the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2022.
Roker was first alerted to his health issue by his smartwatch, which showed a heart rate of 160 beats per minute when he was walking up the stairs. The next day, he experienced vomiting and severe pain. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered he had two bleeding ulcers. The surgery involved resectioning his colon, removing his gallbladder, and redoing his duodenum, a part of the small intestine.
Due to his health issues and subsequent surgery, Roker was unable to host the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting. This was a difficult moment for him, as he had to miss out on a beloved tradition. Roker had also missed the Thanksgiving Day Parade earlier that year, watching from his hospital room.
Reflecting on his experience, Roker acknowledged that his age may have contributed to a more challenging recovery process. However, he maintained a positive attitude throughout, focusing on getting better. Roker's health scare served as a reminder of the importance of taking care of one's health and paying attention to even small warning signs.
The support of his family and the well-wishes of his fans undoubtedly played a role in his recovery, and Roker was grateful to have their support during this challenging time. While missing the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting was disappointing, Roker's health and well-being took priority, and he looked forward to a full recovery and returning to his role on the TODAY show.
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He suffered from a blood clot in his leg
Al Roker, the beloved weatherman and Today show host, was hospitalized due to a blood clot in his leg that travelled to his lungs. This condition, known as a pulmonary embolism, occurs when a blood clot forms in the leg and then dislodges, travelling through the bloodstream to the lungs. This can be life-threatening as it blocks blood flow to the lungs and affects oxygen supply to the body.
Roker first revealed his health scare on November 18, 2022, when he posted a picture of himself watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade from his hospital room. He had been rushed to the hospital after his smartwatch indicated that his heart rate was abnormally high at 160 beats per minute while walking up the stairs. The severity of his condition and his age may have contributed to a more challenging recovery process.
As a result of his hospitalization, Roker was forced to miss hosting the Thanksgiving Day Parade and the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2022. He underwent a seven-hour surgery and spent weeks in and out of the hospital. During this time, surgeons resectioned his colon, removed his gallbladder, and re-operated on his duodenum, a part of the small intestine.
Roker's health scare came two years after he publicly shared his diagnosis of an aggressive form of prostate cancer. His positive attitude and determination to recover played a crucial role in his journey back to health. Reflecting on his experience, Roker maintained a resilient outlook, focusing on getting better and moving forward.
It is important to recognize that blood clots in the leg, like the one Al Roker experienced, can have serious implications if left untreated. Seeking prompt medical attention is crucial, as early intervention can prevent the clot from travelling to the lungs or other vital organs, reducing the risk of life-threatening complications.
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Frequently asked questions
Al Roker was hospitalized after a blood clot in his leg sent clots into his lungs.
Yes, Al Roker was discharged from the hospital on Thanksgiving Day, but was rushed back to the hospital the next day.
Al Roker's condition was improving after heading back to the hospital for the second time.























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