NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Al Roker makes a comeback at Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade which is not only a celebration of the tradition but a deeply personal and triumphant return for the 'Today' show host.
As the parade kicked off in the Upper West Side neighborhood of New York City, Roker exuded enthusiasm and gratitude for being able to be part of the tradition after he missed last year's Thanksgiving due to health issues.
Al Roker is 'so grateful' to be at this year's Thanksgiving parade
According to People, the 69-year-old host expressed his excitement for his return as he said, "I say yay, let's have a parade!."
He shared that he was "so grateful" to attend this year's celebrations. "Look, I missed last year. I am so thankful to be anywhere this year, but especially here," he added.
What happened to Al Roker?
In 2022, Roker's absence from the parade was attributed to a serious health setback which included blood clots in his legs and lungs.
This absence marked the first time Roker missed the parade since 1995 which marked a significant departure from his annual participation.
The TV show host has since been candid about his health journey as he shared updates about the severity of his condition.
"It’s no secret that I had a severe medical issue, and to be completely honest, I almost died. I didn’t know it at the time," Roker said during his appearance on the podcast 'Your Mama's Kitchen' on Audible.
"But I missed Thanksgiving, and almost missed Christmas. And I forgot how important those touchstone moments are," he said.
This experience fueled in him the determination to make it to Christmas as a healthier man.
"I felt, in a sense, badly because I ruined Thanksgiving for the family and I was not going to let that happen for Christmas," Roker said.
"It was important to me and gave me something to push for. And I made Christmas dinner," he added.
On December 8, 2022, the 69-year-old weatherman shared a scenic picture that appeared to be a sunrise view from his hospital window.
"Hopefully coming home soon but when your spirit sags a bit, you get to see that and recharge. God Bless you all for all the prayers and well wishes for me and my family," Roker captioned the image while he shared his heath update amid rehospitalization at the time.
