Key Highlights

• Health Struggles: Al Roker faced significant health challenges, including blood clots and multiple surgeries.
• Recent Updates: He underwent knee surgery in May 2023 and has been actively recovering.
• Public Support: Al expressed gratitude for the support he received during his recovery journey.
• Current Status: As of early 2023, Al is back on television and continues to engage with fans.

Al Roker has faced hurricanes, extreme snowstorms and major meteorological events, only to walk away and deliver the forecast for Today viewers. However, in late 2022, the seemingly indomitable television personality was knocked back when he was hospitalized for blood clots. “It’s been a tough slog, I’m not gonna deny this,” Al said during a December 12, 2022, appearance on Today, his first time on the show following the health scare. “It’s been the hardest one yet, and you know I’ve had my share of surgeries.” Months after making his return following the surgery, Al opened up about how he’s been feeling in an October 2023 interview.

Al wasn’t kidding. His journey has seen him battle a litany of diseases and undergo just as many surgeries. In May 2023, Al gave an update after he underwent knee surgery on May 9, 2023. The beloved weatherman underwent a “total knee replacement” procedure. “It’s stiff,” Al said of his knee. “[The surgery] was a little more complicated. It was called a revision – it was a replacement of a replacement. So they had to go in and take stuff out, put new stuff in.” Al gave love to the medical staff for helping him recover and said that the downtime gave him a chance to catch up on shows like Poker Face, The Mandalorian, and more.

Al also said his recovery looks like “three days a week of physical rehab. That’ll go on for a few months. I still don’t know – maybe sometime in the next two weeks, I’ll be back.” Al returned toToday after his knee surgery on May 30, 2023 and confirmed that the procedure went well.

Al is back with us this morning! pic.twitter.com/D6eyRgCazL

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 30, 2023

On top of this, he underwent a gastric bypass in 2012, carpal tunnel surgery in 2018, shoulder surgery and hip replacement surgery in 2019, and another procedure on his shoulder in 2020. In November 2020, he revealed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. “It’s a good news–bad news kind of thing,” he said onToday. “Good news is we caught it early. Not-great news is that it’s a little aggressive, so I’m going to be taking some time off to take care of this.” Al underwent surgery to remove the cancer and said shortly after the procedure that “it went well.” The doctor said there were no more signs of cancer in Al, but they would continue monitoring him.

So when Al was diagnosed with blood clots in 2022, it caused many to worry. Thankfully, he’s recovered, but what exactly happened to him? Find out below.

What Happened When Al Roker Was Diagnosed With Blood Clots?

Al revealed on Instagram in November 2022 that he was hospitalized with blood clots. “So many of you have been thoughtfully asking where I’ve been,” he captioned a photo of a bouquet of flowers. “Last week, I was admitted to the hospital with a blood clot in my leg which sent some clots into my lungs. After 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. Have a great weekend, everyone.”

Al was released from the hospital on Nov. 24, two days after he revealed the diagnosis. However, he was rushed back to the hospital on November 25, with Page Six reporting that he was “taken from his home in a stretcher.”

The report amplified concern for Al’s well-being. Al’s blood clot issue resulted in him missing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. For 27 years, Al had covered the parade for NBC but his health issues forced him to sit out in 2022.

“For the past 27 parades at this moment,” Savannah Guthrie said to her co-host Hoda Kotb. “We would turn to Al Roker who is our Today Show colleague and our best pal. But as a lot of you have heard, Al is recovering very well from a recent medical issue. We just want to say we love you Al.”

At the start of December 2022, Al revealed he was still in the hospital. “Hopefully coming home soon but when your spirit sags a bit you get to see that and recharge,” he captioned a photo of the sunset in New York City. He returned home on Dec. 08 and shortly thereafter appeared in his kitchen on Today, giving everyone an update.

“There’s just a certain amount of weakness. I’m doing physical therapy every day and occupational therapy. I’ve got to just get my strength back,” he said. But I feel good. I feel strong. Every day I feel a little bit better. I made dinner last night.”

Al made his triumphant return on January 6, 2023. “My heart is just bursting,” Al said. “I’m so thrilled to see all of you and the crew and everybody.”

What Are Blood Clots?

Blood clots are “gel-like clumps of blood that are beneficial when they form in response to an injury or cut,” according to the Mayo Clinic. “Some blood clots form inside your veins without any good reason and don’t dissolve naturally.” These may require medical attention especially if they are located in critical areas such as your lungs or brain.

Blood clots can form from an injury or occur inside a blood vessel without obvious damage. They can travel throughout your body causing severe conditions like heart failure or stroke.

They can be treated with blood-thinning medications according to Johns Hopkins Medicine while lifestyle changes such as more exercise or dietary adjustments can help prevent their formation.

How Long Was Al Roker Sick?

Al has been immunocompromised for years following multiple surgeries and his cancer diagnosis in 2020 regarding his blood clots which likely arose after contracting COVID in September 2022.

“I had two complicated things,” he explained during his first day back after hospitalization.

How Is Al Roker Doing Today?

Al appears to be doing great but hinted at future retirement from NBC during a January interview withPeople. He mentioned plans to continue working but acknowledged that someone at NBC might decide otherwise.