Dominic Massa / Eyewitness News
Exactly five months since her life-saving bone marrow transplant, "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts on Wednesday returned to the anchor desk, to cheers and applause from co-workers.
"I have been waiting 174 days to say this: 'Good Morning America,'" Roberts said at the start of the program.
"I keep pinching myself, and I realize this is real," she said. "This is actually happening."
Her sister and bone marrow donor, Channel 4 anchor Sally-Ann Roberts, was in New York for the special broadcast.
ABC aired footage of ABC News employees cheering and welcoming Robin into work Wednesday morning. At the start of the two-hour program, she thanked those who made her recovery possible.
"Faith, family and friends have brought me to this moment and I am so full of gratitude," Roberts said.
The program began with a videotaped message from President and Mrs. Obama, who congratulated Roberts on her return.
She has been off of the "GMA" desk since August 30, when she left to begin treatment for MDS, the rare bone marrow disease that she contracted as a result of her successful bout with breast cancer.
She went on to receive a bone marrow transplant, in which Sally-Ann donated stem cells and bone marrow to help kickstart her recovery.
Though she is back to work, her healing process continues and doctors will watch her closely for infection and other complications.
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Throughout her journey, Robin and Sally-Ann have highlighted the need for bone marrow and organ donors. Click here for more information on Channel 4's Perfect Match campaign supporting Sally-Ann and Robin and encouraging people to sign up as bone marrow and organ donors.
