Robin Roberts Begins Good Morning America Leave One Day Early—Who Will Be Filling in for Her?

Coanchor decides to depart program on Thursday instead of Friday to be with her ailing mom in the Hurricane Isaac zone before taking medical leave for bone marrow transplant

By Peter Gicas Aug 30, 2012 2:28 PMTags
Robin RobertsABC/Ida Mae Astute

A slight shift in plans for Robin Roberts.

While she had been looking to make Friday her last day on the show before going on medical leave to undergo a bone marrow transplant, the Good Morning America cohost has decided to change it to today.

According to ABC News, Roberts made the switch so that she could fly home to Mississippi to be with her ailing mother, Lucimarian, and her family as they deal with Hurricane Isaac.

"I'm having to move up my schedule," Roberts said on Thursday's GMA. "I am very blessed. Forty percent of Americans can't even take a sick day, and here I know that I'm going to have a job when I come back."

Earlier this week, Roberts, who has been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, shared with viewers that she'll be checking into the hospital next Tuesday for the transplant. Her sister, Sally, is serving as her donor.

It was announced on this morning's show that during Roberts' time away from the program, a variety of famous folks will be filling in for her including Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, Barbara Walters, Kelly Ripa, the cast of Modern Family, Chris Rock, Rob Lowe and Oprah Winfrey as well as a few surprise guests.

And while Roberts, also a breast cancer survivor, pointed out that there is "no timetable" as to when she'll eventually return to work, she did assure her coworkers that she would be watching them "in her jammies."

All the best, Robin!