Elisabeth Hasselbeck resumed her job as co-host of Fox News' Fox & Friends on Friday after a month-long medical leave and got emotional as she revealed that she had surgery to remove a "tennis ball-sized tumor" from her abdomen and that, thankfully, it was not cancer.
The 37-year-old, who smiled and looked radiant in a lilac wrap dress, cited a "scary week" of uncertainty and added that she had "serious talks at home," where she lives with husband Tim Hasselbeck, 36, and their three children, daughter Grace, 9, and sons Taylor, 7, and Isaiah, 5.
Elisabeth's hiatus from Fox & Friends began on Oct. 15 and co-host Steve Doocy explained at the time that she had undergone surgery the day before and was "doing just fine," without elaborating. He said she would be absent for a "couple of weeks."
"I had a...tennis ball-sized tumor that they said needed to come out," Elisabeth said on Friday's show. "I had a little bit of a scary waiting period to know what it was but it was benign. I'm beyond thankful to have a clean bill of health."
The kids were great through it," she added. "Tim was a hero in the hospital there."
Elisabeth said her children were watching her on the show and that "Daddy's making breakfast, so just tell him not to burn the bagels, OK?"
A video of the kids, impersonating her, Doocy and another co-host, Brian Kilmead, while sitting on a couch with a homemade Fox & Friends sign in the back was later screened.
"Woah, Elisabeth, you're back at work?" Taylor asked Grace.
"Have a good day at work, Mommy!" the three said in unison.
A teary-eyed Elisabeth paused for several seconds after the clip ended.
"I don't have any words!" she said. "Thanks! I love you guys. I miss you. Oh my gosh, I love you guys so much, with my whole, whole, heart."
On Fox & Friends, Elisabeth also reunited with fellow former The View co-host Sherri Shepherd.
"Surprised my dear friend @elisabethhasselbeck on her first day back @FoxandFriends - the entire time she was out getting surgery she would send me Scriptures of encouragement and texts praying for me," the comedienne and actress said. "That's the Lizzie I love! Thank you friend!"