A newsroom surprise
EmailExecutive Producer Jon Banner blogs about Bob Woodruff’s
first visit to the newsroom since he was injured in January.
President Bush’s visit to Iraq wasn’t the only surprise around here today. Bob stopped by the newsroom this afternoon, his
first time back in nearly four and a half months. It’s the first time many here
had seen him, and he was greeted by a spontaneous round of applause. You could
literally see the emotion in each hug. There was barely a dry eye.
This being a newsroom, word quickly spread that he was in
the building and within a matter of minutes, a crowd of nearly 100 gathered to
see him -– producers, correspondents, camera operators, editors, executives.
We all crowded around Bob and his wife Lee, who has been
so strong for all of us since that day in January. It was Bob who did most the
talking. He cracked a few jokes and there were a lot of laughs. He talked about
his rehabilitation, his desire to get back to work, and how wonderful it is to
be able spend more time with his four children.
Charlie will have more about Bob’s visit on this
evening’s broadcast.
Suffice to say, there are a lot of happy faces around the
newsroom today.
We will post photos and videos soon.
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Praising God tonight for Bob Woodruff’s continued recovery! So, so glad to see him on the news tonight and wish him and his family continued progress!
Keep up the good work, Bob! We’ll keep praying!
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | June 13, 2006, 6:58 pm 6:58 pm
Seeing Bob tonight made me happy!!!
Posted by: Joseph Saviano | June 13, 2006, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
I JUST SAW THE NEWS AND I WAS SO GLAD TO SEE BOB WOODRUF…HE LOOKS REAL GOOD….GOOD LUCK BOB
Posted by: marylyn | June 13, 2006, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
I was so glad to see Bob R. & his wife Lee make a visit on WNT. Especially Bob!! Welcome back to you Bob!!
Micki
Posted by: Micki | June 13, 2006, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to see the video of Bob in the newsroom tonight. He looks great–strong and determined; I cannot wait to see him back at work. Visiting the newsroom had to be such an important step in his recovery. Thanks for sharing it with all of us.
Posted by: Carol Dorn Sanders | June 13, 2006, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
WOW!!! I’m still in tears from seeing Bob Woodruff back!! Hope to see him more in the future!! Finally, some GREAT news!!!
Posted by: Mary Zorn | June 13, 2006, 7:03 pm 7:03 pm
And a smile on my face to see the pictures of Bob Woodruf back in the newsroom. We, here in Butte have heard that one of the doctors who worked on Bob, lives among us, Dr. Sorini. We are proud that one of our citizens could assist one of the people who bring us the news. Thanks for sharing this GOOD news with us!
Posted by: Rose Brock | June 13, 2006, 7:06 pm 7:06 pm
I was just absolutely thrilled to see Bob an how good he looked. He is definitely an ans. to my prayers for him since is horrible accident. Welcome back Bob….hope to see you soon……marlene
Posted by: Marlene | June 13, 2006, 7:07 pm 7:07 pm
As soon as we heard that Bob Woodruff would be on the news tonight, we dropped everything to watch. We are so happy to see him and to know that he is getting better every day.
He has been missed and we look forward to seeing him and hearing him in whatever role he chooses to have regarding the news at ABC.
We’ve always viewed him as a gentleman and a scholar.
Posted by: Vera and David Goodman | June 13, 2006, 7:16 pm 7:16 pm
I have just seen the ABC news (with Charlie Gibson, loved him for years). I must tell you that your coverage of Bob Woodruff tonight was very comforting to me…I cried. I am a Social Worker and have had many head injured clients in my caseload. I have followed this story with great personal interest as I love ABC News(Peter Jennings,tragedy). To see him walking around and talking….AND JOKING…I am so happy for his family and for him. What a miracle! I worried about this as I am very familiar with what can be reality after this kind of injury. God bless.
Posted by: C.M. Goranson | June 13, 2006, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
so great to see Bob Woodruff back; he looks terrific !
Posted by: Dick Clancy | June 13, 2006, 7:18 pm 7:18 pm
such superb news tonight..just the sight of Bob was inspiring..God Bless you Bob
Posted by: Ellen | June 13, 2006, 8:30 pm 8:30 pm
I was very delighted to see Bob Woodruff. He definitely had an angel of God looking out for himm. I also praise his wife, Lee for being a pilar of strength during this time.
Posted by: Patricia | June 13, 2006, 9:01 pm 9:01 pm
What a treat for you to share with us…seeing Bob back. He looks so good and his lovely wife, Lee, is such a great lady. He looks just great. Thank you for letting us enjoy his visit.
Posted by: Peggy | June 13, 2006, 9:28 pm 9:28 pm
I am just a person who watch the news and I glad he is back and is doing much much much better!!!!
Posted by: K | June 13, 2006, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm
Dear Bob: It’s so nice to see you back where you belong. ;)
Posted by: Bren | June 13, 2006, 11:34 pm 11:34 pm
G R E A T to see Bob Woodruff back. He was v-e-r-y lucky! Pray that other journalists still there also will survive, as 96 others havent. Looking forward to his personal meaningful views of situation there. Wishes for Bob’s, Doug Vogt’s and CBS’s Kimberly Dozier’s continued healing.
Posted by: Gaye Chandler | June 13, 2006, 11:44 pm 11:44 pm
What a wonderful surprise to have Bob’s face on the screen of tonight news. Looks great and look forward to him being back “on the beat” from a Vermonter
Posted by: Charlene Bostrom | June 14, 2006, 3:41 am 3:41 am
What a wonderful surprise!!! Thankyou for letting all the world share with you. I prayed for him and his family a speedy and full recovery. Thank goodness the Angels were with him. Can’t wait to hear your voice and see your smiling face on the news again. God Bless.
Posted by: Deanna | June 14, 2006, 8:46 am 8:46 am
I am from the Philippines but i used to watch Mr. Woodruff, Ms. Vargas and Mr. Gibson on WNT when Mr. Peter Jennings left to seek medical attention. WNT was my choice for evening news whenever i’m in Gardena, CA visiting my sister. Imagine the “shock” i had when i read about his accident on the internet. Since then, i have always gone to your website to get news about his recovery. I wish him and his family, God’s continued guidance, blessings and love.
Posted by: Edna Chua | June 14, 2006, 9:34 am 9:34 am
ABC thank you for sharing your day with Bob Woodruff with us. I am so excited to see how well he is doing. Looking forward to his return. May God continue to bless Mr. Woodruff and his family.
Posted by: joressl | June 14, 2006, 11:17 am 11:17 am
Cannot tell you have happy I was to see Bob Woodruff !!. God Bless him !!!, I hope we see him on GMA in the very near future !!!!!! Kepp up the fantastic work Bob….God Bless, Ann
Posted by: Ann Cobb | June 14, 2006, 11:58 am 11:58 am
It was so good to see Bob, thanks for the update can’t wait till he gets back permantly.
Posted by: Rose Soileau | June 14, 2006, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
It was wonderful to see Bob Woodruff visiting your newsroom, he is a well loved, and respected man in the news business, and has been missed greatly. With the help of God, and all the prayers from his family, and friends, and all the viewers who have been watching his recovery closely, we look forward to seeing him back on World News Tonight where HE belongs. He is a walking miracle.
God Bless him, and his family
Maureen Lopresti
Posted by: Maureen Lopresti | June 14, 2006, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
It was just the nicest segment on ABC news programs yesterday and today to see Bob Woodruff, and that he looked so healthy! Even though I only know him from TV as a reporter and anchor, it felt like a good friend had pulled through a very difficult time, and it made me really happy. Perhaps he represented all of our soldiers there. I am also so happy for his family–along with him what must they have been through! I do not know whether there still are any hurdles to overcome, but I wish him the very best, and hope to see him soon back on ABC, in whatever capacity he chooses to be involved with.
Posted by: Anne | June 14, 2006, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
For some reason Bob seems like a family member to me, and I’ve never met him. I worked in TV news for 18 years, and I could only cry when I heard about his injuries. I am extremely happy to see him doing so well. My prayers are being answered for him. Bob, the best of everything to you and your family. There’s something quite remarkable about you. Go forth knowing that!
Jean
Posted by: Jean Hill | June 14, 2006, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
Thank you for sharing Bob Woodruff’s visit with your viewers. He and his family have been in our thoughts and prayers since he was first injured. He optimizes courage, strength, character and determination. Clearly he was intended to return to his anchor chair. I look forward to seeing him there soon.
Congratulations to Bob and his family on his remarkable recovery,
Rose
Posted by: Rose | June 14, 2006, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
thank you very much for the pictures of bob
woodruff. what a relief to see that he is
recovering so well.
Posted by: patricia | June 14, 2006, 3:39 pm 3:39 pm
I want to add another voice to the chorus of those wishing Bob Woodruf a great, continued recovery and a wonderful life ahead. There are those who have also imagined we reporters to be only out for ourselves and reputations. The dedication of Bob and the recent injuries and death at CBS News, too, should put those cynics in their place. Bob is proving in a thousand ways that he is the real deal, worthy of universal respect. God speed.
Posted by: Doug Terry | June 14, 2006, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm
Dear sir;
Indeed, it was with great sorrow and indignation that I received the news that one of our familiar news anchors “Bob” was injured; but nothing would mount to the relief and joy that BObs full recovery and return to abcnews along with the reputable “illisabette vargas…”
from Morocco
Posted by: mohamed idyassine | June 21, 2006, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
Great that Bob is back, especially in light of what Laura Ingram was saying shortly after he was injured. Something about reporters not doing a good job of reporting how wonderfully the Iraq operations (occupation) was going!
What a thoughtless shame during a time when most were proclaming Bob’s total and life threatening committment.
Maybe Laura and Ann C. can meet VP Cheney for lattes’ and go clubing in Baghdad during their next visit.
V
Posted by: Vince | February 27, 2007, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
Welcome back Bob.
Posted by: Lata Shukla | February 27, 2007, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
I am unspeakably thankful not only for the progress made by Bob Woodruff and his return to ABC News, but for his very apparent and sincere interest in reporting on how members of our Armed Forces are cared for when they return from war after having been wounded, injured, and in many cases permanently disabled as a direct result of their service to our country.
Posted by: Dave Roberts | February 28, 2007, 12:22 am 12:22 am
IT BREAKS MY HEAR TO HEAR ABOUT MR. WOODRUFF’S INJURY. BUT, MY FATHER, A 30 GOVERNMENT. ENGINEER DIED AFTER HE FELL WHEN A SAFETY RAIL HE WAS LEANING ON GAVE WAY (HE WAS AT HIS WORKPLACE). MY DAD FELL BACKWARDS INTO A FIVE FOOT WINDOW WELL, RECEIVED A TBI, AND DIED ON HIS 55TH BIRTHDAY OF SAID INJURIES. NO ONE HAS CALLED HIM A HERO. HE DID NOT PUT HIMSELF IN THE LINE OF INJURY, RATHER, HE SERVED THE PUBLIC. HE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULBS IN OUR LOCAL COURTHOUSE. RE-WIRED WHEN NEEDED. CREATED AN ELECTRICAL PLAN TO ILLUMINATE THE GEORGE WASHINGTON STATUE ON OUR COURTHOUSE. A LITTLE GIRL, HIS ONLY GRANDCHILD, FACES THE TRAUMA OF LOSING THE MAN SHE LOVED SO DEARLY. SHOULDN’T WE LOOK AT ALL SUCH INJURIES IN THE SAME LIGHT? WASN’T MY FATHER JUST AS AN IMPORTANT MAN?
Posted by: Sarah Ostovic | March 2, 2007, 2:27 am 2:27 am