Al Roker is usually a large part of TV holiday celebrations, especially during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, but the TODAY weatherman has been dealing with health issues the past couple of months and was unable to attend.
However, the 68-year-old is expected to reunite with his TODAY co-hosts on Jan. 6, the show announced Tuesday.
TODAY previously said Roker was in the hospital due to blood clots in his legs and lungs. And on Nov. 18, Roker posted on Instagram that he is in the hospital.
“So many of you have been thoughtfully asking where I’ve been. Last week I was admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in my leg which sent some clots into my lungs,” he wrote. “After some medical whack-a-mole, I am so fortunate to be getting terrific medical care and on the way to recovery.”
Due to the illness, Roker missed hosting the parade.
“He’s in good spirits,” Savannah Guthrie previously said, according to TODAY.
He posted a video of him walking out of the hospital on Instagram. And he was able to leave the hospital in time for Thanksgiving dinner and to watch some of the parade, it stated.
But he had to miss the lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in December after being admitted to the hospital again, TODAY said.
“Due to some complications, he is back in the hospital and he is in very good care,” Hoda Kotb said. “He’s resting and his doctors are keeping a close eye on him. Al and his family want everyone to know how grateful they are for all the love, the support and the well wishes.”
The show later surprised him when he was able to return home with “a little caroling.”
“Words cannot express how much I love my @todayshow family for coming over to do a little caroling including a special rendition of ‘I’ll Be Home For #Christmas,’” he wrote.
Although he has been home since Dec. 8, Roker had not returned to the show and continued to recover. On Friday, that changes as he’s expected to return.
“I can never thank all of you who prayed for us enough,” he wrote.