"GMA's" Robin Roberts, who is the host of "TV's Most Dynamic Duos: Presented by the Paley Center for Media" Sunday on ABC, has started her medical leave one day early. MICHAEL PRIEST/Paley Center
"Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts has started her medical leave a day earlier than planned.
Roberts, who announced on Monday that this would be her last week on the ABC morning show before leaving for treatment of a blood disorder, left early due to an illness in the family.
"I had planned to let tomorrow be the last day ... and then some things happened at home and I wanna take care of that before I begin my treatment next week."
Roberts told viewers last month that she had been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a rare blood disorder, and would be taking an extended medical leave to prepare for a bone marrow transplant provided by her sister Sally-Ann.
Friday was set to be her last day but she left early to fly home to Mississippi to be with her ill mother, Lucimarian, and her family. reportede abcnews.com.
"Our beloved mother, the matriarch of our family, 88 years old, has had some health issues recently and it's got to the point that Sally-Ann and I need to get home so I’m leaving a day early,” Roberts said, according to abcnews.com.
Her co-anchors Josh Elliott, Sam Champion, George Stephanopoulos and Lara Spencer promised to to “keep her seat warm” and country star Martina McBride flew in to perform a special tribute to Roberts. No date has been set for her return to the show.
"I will be back, you know," said Roberts said on air. "This is just see you later. See you soon. I will get back as fast as I can."
"I love you and I'll see you soon," she said.
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