NEW YORK (AP) — Five months after undergoing a bone marrow transplant, Robin Roberts is back on television in the morning.
Miss Roberts said Wednesday she had been waiting 174 days “to say this: ’Good morning, America.”
The morning-show host is recovering from MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease. She looked thin, with close-cropped hair, but was smiling broadly, back at work on “Good Morning America” at ABC’s studio in New York.
Miss Roberts was welcomed back in a taped message from President Obama and his wife, Michelle; former ESPN colleagues; and Magic Johnson.
ABC announced Miss Roberts will interview the first lady later this week, to be shown next Tuesday.
ABC News President Ben Sherwood came into the studio to give fist bumps to the anchors at the 7:25 a.m. EST break. He said Miss Roberts’ health will be closely monitored to make sure she doesn’t overdo it at the beginning.
“This was up to Robin, her doctors and God,” Mr. Sherwood said. “It’s a day that we all rejoice.”
ABC didn’t miss a beat with her absence, continuing in first place in the ratings after first overcoming NBC’s “Today” show last spring. Mr. Sherwood said the success with Miss Roberts’ absence surprised him.
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