Al Roker shared that he was filled with gratitude and “glad to be alive” when he rang the doorbell on Sunday on his 69th birthday — less than a year after nearly dying from internal bleeding.
The Today weatherman kicked off his party with a peaceful lakeside stroll before taking his son Nick off to college and spending some quality time with his six-week-old granddaughter Sky.
Roker intervened when he was filming a movie sincere video thanking his fans for their unwavering support on his birthday.
“This is my 69th birthday from orbiting the sun, and after everything I went through at the end of last year, I am beyond grateful to be able to celebrate this birthday,” he said.
Al Roker celebrated his 69th birthday on Sunday with his six-week-old granddaughter Sky
The Today host got his steps when he filmed a heartfelt video thanking his fans for their continued support on his birthday and saying he’s ‘glad to be alive’
“To everyone who has sent well wishes and good wishes over the past year, God bless you. Thank you so much. I can appreciate. I am so grateful.’
Roker thanked his wife, Deborah Roberts, “for getting[him]out of the hospital” last winter and his three children, Courtney, 36, Leila, 24, and Nick, 21.
He also gave a special shoutout to his granddaughter, Sky, calling her “one of the greatest gifts ever.”
“There’s a lot to be thankful for on this birthday and glad you’re alive,” he said before blowing a kiss to the camera.
“Grateful for another trip around the sun,” he added in the caption.
Roker shared in another video that his wife bought him a Blackstone griddle for his birthday to complete his “ring of fire” of grilling appliances in his backyard.
After his lakeside walk, the couple dropped Nick off at the university and took a family selfie in their son’s dorm room.
“Back to the #emptynest after dropping our young man off at college for sophomore year,” the father captioned the image.
The proud grandfather posted photos of himself with baby Sky, saying she’s the “best birthday present.”
Roker and his wife, Deborah Roberts, also brought their 21-year-old son Nick to college on Sunday
Roker shared in another video that his wife bought him a Blackstone griddle for his birthday to complete his “ring of fire” of grilling appliances in his backyard
Roker also posted a snapshot of his granddaughter Sky, saying she’s the “best birthday present.”
The first grandfather is over the moon since Courtney and her husband, Wesley Laga, welcomed their baby girl on July 3.
Courtney paid tribute to her father on Instagram on Sunday, sharing an old photo of him holding her as a baby, along with a photo of him with Sky.
“Happy birthday to the best dad and the most amazing pop pop of Sky,” she captioned the post.
His daughter Leila also posted a picture of him with her when she was a kid, captioning it: Congratulations, Dad! Thank you for everything you do. Have a nice day, flyer.’
Roker’s daughter Courtney paid tribute to her father on Instagram on Sunday, sharing a throwback photo of him holding her as a baby, along with a photo of him with Sky
His youngest daughter Leila also posted a picture of him with her when she was a kid, captioning it: Congratulations, Dad! Thank you for everything you do. Have a nice day, flyer
Smoker faced life-threatening health problems late last year after suffering from blood clots and internal bleeding.
He underwent emergency surgery for nearly seven hours to treat two bleeding ulcers.
Doctors had to resect his colon, remove his gallbladder and repair a tear in his duodenum, the first part of the small intestine that connects to the stomach.
Roker made his triumphant return to the Today show on January 6 following his two-month sick leave, which included a total of four weeks in the hospital.
“My doctor said that the physical condition I was in from running—because of the cardio—probably saved my life,” he explained.
To make sure he kept up his normal running routine, he underwent his third knee surgery in May and documented his recovery on Instagram.