\n<\/p>\n
Counting his blessings. Al Roker<\/strong><\/a> is grateful to be on the mend<\/a> following his recent health scare, a source exclusively reveals in the new issue of\u00a0Us Weekly.<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cAl\u2019s recent hospitalization was very scary. [He] counts himself so lucky to have gotten speedy treatment and knows that ultimately he\u2019s lucky to be alive,\u201d the insider tells\u00a0Us\u00a0<\/i>of the 68-year-old\u00a0Today Show<\/a>\u00a0<\/i>meteorologist. \u201cHe\u2019s been so brave throughout this, never complaining or feeling overly sorry for himself, always wanting to know how others are doing even when he\u2019s at his lowest. Right now he\u2019s following all the doctors\u2019 advice.\u201d<\/p>\n The\u00a0NBC News\u00a0<\/i>anchor \u2014 who has helmed the NBC morning show since 1996<\/a> \u2014 had missed several November 2022 broadcasts after doctors discovered that he had blood clots<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cSo many of you have been thoughtfully asking where I\u2019ve been. Last week I was\u00a0admitted to the hospital\u00a0with a blood clot in my leg which sent some clots into my lungs,\u201d Roker wrote via\u00a0Instagram\u00a0at the time<\/a>. \u201cAfter some medical whack-a-mole, I am so fortunate to be getting terrific medical care and on the way to recovery. Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers and hope to see you soon.\u201d<\/p>\n The New York native ultimately needed to undergo surgery, resulting in Roker missing that November\u2019s Macy\u2019s Thanksgiving Day Parade<\/a> for the first time in 27 years.<\/p>\n The TV journalist was admitted to the hospital several days later<\/a> following complications.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a tough slog, I\u2019m not gonna deny this,\u201d Roker said during a virtual appearance on\u00a0Today\u00a0<\/i>at the time. \u201cIt\u2019s been the hardest one yet, and you know I\u2019ve had my share of surgeries. I\u2019m doing physical therapy every day, occupational therapy. I\u2019ve got to just get my strength back. \u2026 I feel good. I feel strong. Every day I feel a little bit better.\u201d<\/p>\n The weatherman \u2014 who has been married to Deborah Roberts<\/strong><\/a> since September 1995 \u2014 ultimately returned to\u00a0Today<\/i>\u00a0on January 6.<\/p>\n \u201cI lost half my blood. [My doctors] were trying to figure out where it was,\u201d he said during his first broadcast back, revealing his surgeons found that he had two bleeding ulcers and discovered that they needed to resect his colon and remove his gallbladder. \u201cI really do feel good. I\u2019m sure I\u2019m going to collapse like a stone after this is over because this is the first work I\u2019ve done. It\u2019s been a journey.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued at the time: \u201cThank God for Deborah. She basically shielded me from a lot of this. I had no idea how sick I was. I am living example of ignorance is bliss. I was able to put all my energy into just recuperating because I didn\u2019t know how bad off I was.\u201d<\/p>\n Roker \u2014 who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2020<\/a>, which resulted in surgical intervention \u2014 has since remained focused on regaining his strength. He\u2019s \u201ctrying\u201d to gain back the weight he lost<\/a> amid the health scare in a \u201csustained and healthy way,\u201d the source tells\u00a0Us<\/i>.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s still a ways to go as far as his recovery,\u201d the insider adds, noting Roker has been \u201cso happy\u201d to return to\u00a0Today<\/i>. \u201cHe\u2019s participating in physio and staying as active as possible, getting plenty of exercise but not over-doing it. \u2026 He\u2019s very happy and grateful to be slowly getting back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n For more on the Roker\u2019s recovery, watch the video above and pick up the latest issue of\u00a0Us Weekly,<\/i>\u00a0on newsstands now.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n Al Roker on the \u201cToday\u201d Show<\/span> RW\/MediaPunch\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n