Good Morning America host Lara Spencer has revealed that she has been off the air this week due to undergoing two painful foot surgeries. 

The 55-year-old television personality took to Instagram to update her followers on her medical procedures, 

sharing a photo of her bandaged feet and thanking her surgeon for his expertise.

Spencer Details Surgeries and Past Injury

Spencer explained the reasons behind each operation, shedding light on a long-standing injury that dates back to her college years. 

She revealed that her right foot required a relatively minor procedure to remove a plate from a previous surgery, which had been done last year. 

However, the surgery on her left foot was more complex, as it addressed damage from a severe injury she suffered while competing as a collegiate athlete.

During her time at Pennsylvania State University, where she was on an athletic scholarship for springboard and platform diving, Spencer experienced a traumatic accident. While attempting a reverse one-and-a-half dive, she hit the diving board, leading to shattered toes and joint damage. At the time, medical professionals advised her that there was little that could be done beyond taping the injury and allowing it to heal naturally.

“Back then, they said there was nothing you could do except tape it, let it heal, and live with the pain,” Spencer wrote in her Instagram post. “Today, there are much better options, thanks to surgeons like Dr. Marty O’Malley at HSS.”

Gratitude for Her Surgeon and Support from Colleagues

In her post, Spencer expressed appreciation for her doctor, playfully referring to him as the person responsible for her “new pair of boots.” She also acknowledged that she looked somewhat groggy in the post-surgery photo but reassured fans that she was on the mend.

The well-known television host received an outpouring of support from fans and fellow colleagues in response to her post. Former GMA medical chief Dr. Jennifer Ashton praised Spencer’s toughness, writing, “Jesus!!! Who does both feet at the same time???? My girl, that’s who! So tough! Sending you speedy love to fast recovery! We’ve got dancing to do.”

ABC News 20/20 co-anchor Deborah Roberts also offered words of encouragement, writing, “Wow! Well, no doubt you’ll be twirling in no time!” Meanwhile, GMA’s chief business, economics, and technology correspondent Rebecca Jarvis simply wrote, “Sweetie!! Feel better soon.”

A History of Foot Issues

This is not the first time Spencer has undergone foot surgery. In 2023, she shared that Dr. O’Malley had previously operated on her foot to address a torn plantar plate and ligament, an issue she had been dealing with for some time. At the time, she described the condition as something that had been “slowly getting worse and worse,” prompting the need for medical intervention.

Despite these challenges, Spencer has remained optimistic about her recovery and has reassured fans that she is on the path to healing.

Good Morning America’s Holiday Card Controversy

While Spencer has been off the air due to her surgeries, Good Morning America has continued its programming as usual. However, the show recently sparked controversy among fans with the unveiling of its 2024 holiday card.

The festive image featured several of the show’s most prominent anchors, including Spencer, Ginger Zee, Michael Strahan, Robin Roberts, and George Stephanopoulos. They were photographed in front of a wintery backdrop decorated with holiday lights and seasonal décor.

However, fans were quick to notice that two key members of the GMA team were missing from the photo—weekend host Gio Benitez and weatherman Sam Champion.

When People magazine shared the holiday card on Instagram, social media users immediately flooded the comments section with questions about the missing anchors. “You are missing Sam Champion and Gio Benitez,” one user pointed out.

Despite the minor controversy, the GMA team has yet to address the absence of Benitez and Champion from the holiday card.

Lara Spencer’s Road to Recovery

As for Spencer, she is now focused on her recovery following the dual surgeries. Though the procedures were painful, she remains hopeful that they will ultimately improve her mobility and quality of life. Given her resilience and positive attitude, fans are eager to see her return to GMA once she has fully healed.

In the meantime, her followers continue to send her well wishes, looking forward to the day she’s back on television, sharing her signature enthusiasm and energy.

Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.