Craig Melvin made headlines on the Today show Monday when he live‑donated blood and revealed he had previously donated directly to his friend and longtime colleague Al Roker, during the weather anchor’s serious health struggles. The moment was both heartfelt and light‑hearted.
A Life‑Saving Gesture
Melvin returned to the broadcast after a brief absence and began the segment by stressing how critical blood donations are in the United States. He said that “every two seconds” someone needs a transfusion, a statistic he used to encourage viewers to act.
As the segment shifted into its third hour, Al Roker—who has been open about his 2022 health crisis—remarked, “I’m a living example of being a recipient of those donations during my health issues.” Melvin then shared, “That’s right, because I came over and gave. I wanted to make sure it was earmarked for you.”
Camaraderie and Humor
The exchange turned playful when Roker joked: “Yeah, in fact, after I got Craig’s blood, I started talking slower and I started drinking more bourbon. So, bonus!” This bit of levity underscored the warm dynamic between the co‑hosts on screen.
Earlier, Roker startled Melvin while he was donating by creeping up and suddenly shouting, “What do you want your legacy to be?” which caused Melvin to jump in his seat. Melvin quipped, “That could’ve gone another way.”
Roker’s Health Journey
Although Roker slipped past the specifics of which health crisis the blood was for, multiple past reports reveal he lost half his blood and underwent extensive surgery in 2022. Doctors treated blood clots in his lungs and legs, removed his gall bladder, resected parts of his colon, and managed two bleeding ulcers. It was described as a life‑threatening episode lasting nearly seven hours.
He has also been open about facing prostate cancer diagnosed in 2020 and earlier battling weight issues that led to bypass surgery in 2012. Reflecting on the ordeal, his doctor noted that had his health not been proactive, the outcome might have been dire.