Robin Roberts Announces Medical Leave On "GMA" (VIDEO)

Robin Roberts announced on Monday, Aug. 27 during a live telecast on "Good Morning America" that Friday, Aug. 31, will be her last day on air.

Roberts, 51, made the announcement about her upcoming medical leave while sitting alongside her co-anchor George Stephanopolous. She will check into a hospital next Tuesday, Sept.4, to "begin the process." 

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The process she is referring to is undergoing a bone marrow transplant. Roberts was diagnosed with blood and bone marrow disease myelodysplastic syndrome, also known as "MDS".  Her donor is her sister, who is also a news anchor who turned out to be a "perfect match," said Roberts. 

"It still takes about ten days after being admitted because there's some things that you have to go through before the transplant actually occurs," she said.

"GMA" posted a picture of Roberts' dog during the telecast; she revealed that her dog can no longer stay with her as she recovers from a weak immune system.

Roberts tweeted about her dog on Saturday, Aug. 25: "Friends from Maine will care for KJ (my JRT) during upcoming medical leave. Met in Portsmouth, NH, tonite to hand her off. Cried like a baby."

The news anchors announced that starting Thursday, Aug. Sept. 6, Roberts' doctors will share information about her recovery process and direct viewers with information about BeTheMatch.org to learn how to become a bone marrow donor.

During Roberts' absence, several news anchors and talk shows hosts will sit in Roberts' chair for a guest co-hosting gig: Diane Sawyer, Katie Couric, the hosts of "The View", etc., will contribute to "GMA" during her extended medical leave.

Roberts, 51, first went on medical leave from "GMA" five years ago. At that time she was suffering from and later successfully battled breast cancer.

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