Tessa Quinn
Al Roker, the beloved TV personality and weatherman, 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 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, an event he had attended for the last 27 years. Roker's health issues included severe internal bleeding, which resulted in him losing half his blood volume. He underwent surgery for two bleeding ulcers and had to have his gallbladder removed and his colon resectioned. After his recovery, Roker returned to hosting duties and was thrilled to be back, feeling stronger than ever.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of hospitalisation | November 2022 |
| Reason for hospitalisation | Blood clots in his legs and lungs |
| Complications | Internal bleeding, two bleeding ulcers, had to resection the colon and remove his gall bladder |
| Length of hospital stay | Four weeks |
| Length of recovery | Two months |
| Date of return to TV | 6 January 2023 |
| Other health issues | Knee replacement surgery in May 2023, previous battle with aggressive prostate cancer |
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What You'll Learn
Al Roker's health scare in 2022
In November 2022, Al Roker was admitted to the hospital due to blood clots in his legs, which spread to his lungs. This health scare caused him to miss the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in 27 years.
Roker revealed that he had been admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in his leg, which sent some clots into his lungs. He was hospitalized for four weeks and underwent physical and occupational therapy to regain his strength. He was released from the hospital on December 8, 2022, but was readmitted the next day due to unspecified reasons.
Roker's health issues were severe, and his family shielded him from knowing the full extent of his illness. His wife, Deborah Roberts, and daughter, Leila Roker, shared that they feared they might lose him while doctors struggled to find the source of his internal bleeding. Roker himself stated that he only learned about the severity of his condition after he left the hospital.
The TV personality underwent surgery for two bleeding ulcers, during which his gallbladder was removed, and his colon was resectioned. He has since recovered and returned to hosting duties, reflecting on his health scare and expressing gratitude for his recovery. By January 6, 2023, Roker had a clean bill of health and returned to TV.
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Blood clots in his legs and lungs
Al Roker was hospitalized in November 2022 due to blood clots in his legs, which spread to his lungs. This was likely related to a previous COVID infection. Roker himself revealed that he had "blood clots that they think came up after I had COVID in September".
Roker's hospitalization for blood clots caused him to miss the 2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which he had hosted annually for 27 years. He was released from the hospital in time for Thanksgiving dinner at home but was admitted again at the end of November for "unspecified reasons" and missed the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas tree on November 30, 2022.
After his release from the hospital, Roker reflected on his health scare, stating that he only learned about the severity of his health issues after he left the hospital. His wife, Deborah Roberts, and daughter, Leila Roker, initially shielded him from knowing how sick he was. Roker also shared that he had two complicating factors during his hospitalization: the blood clots and internal bleeding. He lost half his blood, and doctors had to perform surgery to treat two bleeding ulcers, which included removing his gallbladder and resecting his colon.
Roker made an emotional return to the "Today" show in January 2023, two months after his hospitalization. He joked about his recovery, saying, "I went in for one operation, I got four free." He also expressed his joy at being back, stating, "I have missed you guys so much. You are like my second family, and it's just great to be back and wearing pants."
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Internal bleeding and surgery
Al Roker was hospitalized in November 2022 due to internal bleeding and blood clots in his legs, which spread to his lungs. He underwent surgery to treat two bleeding ulcers and had his gallbladder removed and his colon resectioned. This surgery lasted nearly seven hours.
Roker lost half of his blood volume due to the internal bleeding, and his medical team initially struggled to locate the source of the bleeding. He recalled that his wife, Deborah Roberts, and younger daughter, Leila Roker, initially shielded him from knowing the severity of his health issues. Roberts described the ordeal as "the worst roller coaster ride you have ever been on," and the family feared they might lose him.
Roker was released from the hospital on December 8, 2022, but his condition remained worrying, and he was rushed back to the hospital the day after Thanksgiving. He was eventually discharged and returned to his role on the TODAY show on January 6, 2023, expressing his joy at being back.
Roker's health issues served as a wake-up call, and he acknowledged the crucial role his commitment to health played in his recovery. He shared that his doctor affirmed that his physical condition before the hospitalization likely saved his life. Roker's experience underscores the importance of prioritizing health and well-being to build resilience against unforeseen medical crises.
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Intensive care and recovery
Al Roker was hospitalized in November 2022 due to blood clots in his legs, which spread to his lungs. He was admitted to the intensive care unit and faced severe health issues, including internal bleeding caused by two bleeding ulcers. Roker lost half of his blood volume, and his medical team struggled to locate the source of the bleeding. The situation was so dire that his family thought they might lose him.
Roker underwent a nearly seven-hour-long surgery, during which doctors performed a colon resection and removed his gallbladder. He was released from the hospital on December 8, 2022, and spent the subsequent weeks recovering at home. However, he had to be rushed back to the hospital by ambulance the day after Thanksgiving due to a deterioration in his condition.
During his recovery, Roker learned the full severity of his health issues, as his family had initially shielded him from the truth while he was in the hospital. He discovered that his wife, Deborah Roberts, and their younger daughter, Leila Roker, had endured a "roller coaster ride" and genuinely feared for his life.
Roker's recovery process included physical therapy and occupational therapy to regain his strength. He also had to take time off work, missing the 2022 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which he had hosted annually for 27 years. By January 2023, Roker had made a sufficient recovery to return to his role on the TODAY show, and he hosted the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Roker's health crisis was a wake-up call, and he has since prioritized his health and fitness. He has maintained a 100-lb weight loss for over two decades and committed to a daily exercise routine, including weight training.
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Al Roker's return to TV
Al Roker, the beloved TV weatherman, made an emotional return to TV in January 2023 after being hospitalized for blood clots in his lungs and legs the previous November. Roker, who had been absent from the "Today" show for two months, was welcomed back by his co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, who expressed how much they had missed him.
Roker himself shared his joy at being back, saying, "I have missed you guys so much. You are like my second family, and it's just great to be back and wearing pants," he joked. He also reflected on his health scare, saying that he only learned about the severity of his condition after he left the hospital, as his family had initially shielded him from knowing how sick he really was.
In addition to the blood clots, Roker faced other health complications, including internal bleeding caused by two bleeding ulcers. He underwent surgery and had his gallbladder removed and his colon resectioned. He also had to receive physical and occupational therapy to regain his strength after his hospitalization.
Despite the challenges, Roker made a full recovery and was thrilled to be hosting the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2023, after missing it for the first time in 27 years due to his health issues. He also took a brief leave from TV in May 2023 for a knee replacement surgery but has since returned to the screen, determined to maintain his health and well-being.
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Frequently asked questions
Al Roker was hospitalized in November 2022 due to blood clots in his legs that spread to his lungs.
Yes, Al Roker was taken back to the hospital via ambulance the day after he was discharged on Thanksgiving. He was readmitted due to unspecified reasons.
Al Roker's health issues caused him to miss the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time in 27 years. He also had to step away from his role as the weatherman on the TODAY show for two months.
