Robin Roberts returns to the “Good Morning America” anchor desk this morning, five months to the day since she underwent a bone marrow transplant to treat myelodysplastic syndrome or MDS, a rare blood disorder.
“I keep pinching myself and I realize that this is real. This is really happening,” Roberts, 52, said. “Faith, family and friends have brought me to this moment and I am so full of gratitude.”
“There’s so many people that I want to thank throughout the morning, my doctors and nurses and family and colleagues and people who have sat in this chair and those who have blazed the trail before me,” Roberts said.
“As my mother said, ‘We all have something,'” she said. “Everyone’s story has purpose and meaning and value and I share this morning, this day of celebration, with everyone.”
Roberts’ return to the show’s Times Square studio alongside her co-anchors George Stephanopoulos, Josh Elliott, Lara Spencer and Sam Champion, was a moment she had visualized during her recovery.
“It’s something like this,” she told them in a candid conversation. “Looking into Sam’s blue eyes. …I love how we’re sitting, how we would be sitting. …But I know when I sit back down, right in this chair, and I look over and I see you and I see you and I see you and I see you, it’s gonna be, all is right in the world. And it’s gonna seem like no time has passed at all.”
The official announcement of Roberts’ return was made Feb. 6 after her most recent test showed no signs of abnormalities and she received the all-clear from her doctors. Roberts then did a series of “dry runs” at the “GMA” studio in Times Square to start acclimating herself again to the anchor chair, testing the studio lights on her sensitive skin and eyes, and adjusting to those early morning wake-up calls.
Earlier this month, Roberts traveled to her home state of Louisiana with “GMA” co-anchors Josh Elliott and Sam Champion to see family and friends and enjoy some Super Bowl festivities. The milestone visit started with a warm welcome by students from her alma mater, Southeastern Louisiana University, and was an important part in her emotional recovery, she explained in a Facebook post.
Another of Roberts’ recovery milestones was reached when George Stephanopoulos announced last Thursday on “GMA” that Roberts would appear on the red carpet at this Sunday’s Oscar ceremony. It was at the Oscars one year ago that Roberts has said she started feeling badly and one of her recovery goals was to be back in time for this year’s ceremony.
Roberts will also share her personal journey on a special edition of “20/20” on Friday, Feb. 22 at 10 p.m., ET. The hour will offer a candid behind-the-scenes look at Roberts’ experience and those who have drawn hope and courage from her example.
