Six months after taking medical leave for a bone marrow transplant, Robin Roberts makes a triumphant return to Good Morning America. INSIDE EDITION reports.
It was Robin Roberts' triumphant return to TV. The beloved Good Morning America anchor has been off the air for six months after a life-saving bone marrow transplant.
"I'm Robin Roberts, and I've been waiting 174 days to say this. Good morning, America!" she said.
And what a welcome she got. A banner over the Statue of Liberty, her face over Times Square, and even a personal message from the president and first lady.
President Obama said, "Welcome back, Robin!"
The First Lady chimed in, saying, "Robin, we just want you to know that the whole Obama family has been thinking about you and praying for you and rooting for you every step of the way!"
Roberts looked thin and didn't bother to cover her hair loss with a wig, but her sparking smile lit up the cameras.
Even her morning show competition, The Today show, sent a welcome back basket of food. Savannah Guthrie said, "She is looking and feeling great, and I know we are all really happy for her."
CBS This Morning's Gayle King tweeted, "She is strong and ready! And looks fantastic. Go, Robin, go!"
Roberts isn't out of the woods yet. Her bone marrow transplant has left her with a delicate immune system comparable to a baby's.
ABC News' Chief Medical Editor, Richard Besser, advised the network on how to deal with Robin's return and keep her healthy.
"If you have a cold, you're not supposed to be near Robin. She needs to have all of her own makeup and products so she's not sharing those with anybody. If someone at the anchor desk has a cold, they should not be sitting next to her. They need to be sitting across the room," he said.
Flu shots were made available to staff, and the studio was given a thorough cleaning.
Yet another precaution — Robin was giving out fist bumps instead of her famous hugs and kisses.
Her treatments also left her with weak eyesight, and she said she started having trouble seeing the teleprompters mid-way through the show.
There is concern that she may already be overdoing it. On Friday, she'll interview Michelle Obama at the White House, and then it's on to L.A. for the Oscars®.
One of Roberts' doctors, Dr. Gail Roboz said, "We didn't exactly have in mind an interview with Mrs. Obama and the Oscars® for this weekend as an easy start."
For now, Roberts is just focused on how great it feels to be back at work.
"I share this morning, this day of celebration, with everyone," she said.
