Television personality Robin Roberts and singer Mary J. Blige attend ABC’s “Good Morning America” at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on June 22, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Television personality Robin Roberts and singer Mary J. Blige attend ABC’s “Good Morning America” at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on June 22, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama participates in an interview with Robin Roberts of ABC’s Good Morning America, in the Cabinet Room of the White House on May 9, 2012 in Washington, DC. During the interview, President Obama expressed his support for gay marriage, a first for a U.S. president. (Photo by Pete Souza/White House Photo via Getty Images)
TV personality Robin Roberts arrives at the 84th Annual Academy Awards held at the Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
GMA Co-Host Robin Roberts addresses the audience on ABC’s “Good Morning America” at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on July 13, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
GMA Co-Host Robin Roberts interviews Musician Luke Bryan on ABC’s “Good Morning America” at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park on July 13, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)
NEW YORK (AP) — Robin Roberts says Friday will be her last day co-anchoring “Good Morning America” for a while.
On Monday’s edition of the ABC News wakeup program, Roberts made official the start date for what’s being called her “extended medical leave.”
Roberts told viewers in July that she has MDS, a blood and bone marrow disease once known as preleukemia.
She says she will be hospitalized next week to prepare for the bone marrow transplant that will take place about 10 days after that.
But looking further ahead, Roberts noted she is luckier than many workers who become ill. She says her bosses have been generous in giving her the needed time off, and her job is waiting for her when she’s well enough to return. She described herself as “very blessed.”
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
