EmailIn a dramatic example of the collision between her personal and public lives that have marked Robin Roberts’ journey over the past year, just after a doctor warned her blood disorder could kill her in just one to two years, she heard she would interview President Obama.
Roberts was at her first appointment with a specialist in myelodysplastic syndrome or MDS. He showed her a graph.
Watch the full story on “A Special Edition of 20/20: Robin Roberts’ Journey” Friday at 10 p.m. ET
“There was one year, two years, and a dot in the middle,” Roberts said. “And the doctor kept pointing to that dot in the middle, between one year and two years. And I said, What’s that? And the doctor said, ‘If you don’t do anything, that is your life expectancy.’”
When Roberts got in her car and turned on her phone, there were several urgent messages, she said.
“I remember calling [ABC News President] Ben Sherwood from the car, and he’s going, ‘Where have you been?’ And I said, Oh, I had an appointment, sorry, I’ve been away from the office. What’s going on? And he said, ‘The White House has called. You’re interviewing the president tomorrow at the White House.”
Roberts’ initial excitement was followed by a more surprising reaction, she said.
“I said, Ben, [I'm] very excited. … It’s a privilege and an honor always to interview the president of the United States. Can I get back to you? … I’m just dealing with some — I promise, I’ll get right back to you.”
“I could only imagine what Ben must have been thinking,” Roberts said with a chuckle.
“That’s not the reaction that normally happens when you’re calling one of your greatest journalists and anchors and telling her the president wants to meet you, and he may have some very big news to break,” Sherwood said. “‘I’ll call you back’? I remember putting the phone down, and I remember thinking, That is so strange. Something’s going on.”
The interview took place on May 9, 2012, and Roberts still harbored her health secret, she said.
“Again, no one knows all these things that are going on, and, you know, [I] sit down and ask the president, Are you still opposed to same-sex marriage? He makes his historic response … everyone’s talking about it, and I’m just going like, People, I have MDS. I have a bone marrow transplant in my future,” Roberts said with a laugh.
Watch the full story on “A Special Edition of 20/20: Robin Roberts’ Journey” Friday at 10 p.m. ET
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I’m happy to see you’re feeling better and back on air. I hope things continue to improve.
Posted by: whatever | February 21, 2013, 8:22 pm 8:22 pm
Give it a rest, she is no more important than any other person that is trying to beat this disease… just because she is a left wing liberal and rich, she thinks she’s more important than anyone else….I wish ALL people with this disease many years of good heath, regardless if they are rich and elitiest or poor.. just give it a rest ABC
Posted by: the sinking of the USA | February 21, 2013, 8:58 pm 8:58 pm
I see there are things worst than death
Posted by: jimmy | February 21, 2013, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
I like Robin and wish her well but enough celebration and hoopla already. She doesn’t have to go to every show to explain her journey again and again. She is an extremely fortunate person. Hospitals are full of patients who suffer, endure and thrive as well or not. She is not doing anything special. Of course she is trying hard to fight for her coveted spot in GMA. I feel offended because I have a daughter who suffers from mental illness and in her darkest moments its just me and her because if we speak of her disease to family and friends she is criticized, judged and stigmatized. She has lost friends, time and aspects of her life and no one is there to praise her when she recovers. I don’t think it’s fair that her disease is frown upon in our society while the Robin Roberts of the world capitalize from their illness. Don’t get me wrong, I like Robin and wish her well, but enough already.
Posted by: Esther | February 21, 2013, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm
Yes, Jimmy, you’re correct. For instance, being married to ‘The Sinking of the USA’ commenter.
Posted by: Bob | February 21, 2013, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
After listening to this phony slobber-fest for 5 months, Im beginning to root for the cancer.
Posted by: Ken | February 21, 2013, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
Dear Robin, I am sorry what you are going through. I just want to tell you THAT IN LAGOS NIGERIA THEIR IS A CHURCH PLEASE CONTACT THEM.YOU WILL SEE MIRACLE THAT YOU NEVER SEEN IN YOUR LIFE. PLEASE CALL THEM BUT BE CAREFUL THEIR ARE DANGEROUS ROBBERS THEIR. CONTACT (US EMBASSY) PLEASE TRY IT YOU WILL NEVER LOOSE JUST BELIEVE IN GOD. I KNOW YOU WILL BE HEALED.
EMMANUEL.TV OR SCOAN ,BE HEALED IN THE NAME OF JESUS. Enu ( Canada )
Posted by: Enu Yami | February 21, 2013, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm
robin thank god you are back i’ve been praying for you all smiles here
Posted by: veronica | February 21, 2013, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
I am sorry but I do have to make a comment about all the parade you are making for Robin Roberts. It is just making me sick all the attention you are expressing all day everyday on TV for this woman.
The reality is that she is the most transparent example of someone that should but can NOT be fired, EVER. Why? because she is a woman, she is a lesbian, she is black and she has cancer.
If a common person gets sick with cancer, will get fired for not being able to perform the job he or she was hired for.
On top of that Ms. Roberts gets full medical insurance covered by ABC network. The common guy would be already dead for not been able to pay for treatments.
Posted by: talking to you | February 21, 2013, 11:46 pm 11:46 pm
Hype is one thing, but slinging mud on the doctor is too much. He didn’t say she would die in one or two years, he said she’d IF SHE DID NOTHING. Sensationalism at someone’s expense! Despicable.
Posted by: The_Mick | February 22, 2013, 12:43 am 12:43 am
What a bunch of ungrateful people! Do you think she would wish this on anyone else. She is trying to be a voice for others with the disease. Sure, she had the finances and all the Drs. But, she was near death at times. Just because someone has money doesn’t mean they deserve every bad thing. If you don’t want to hear it, just turn off your TV.
Posted by: Beth Stone | February 22, 2013, 12:46 am 12:46 am
I don’t care if she is a celebrity, rich, poor, whatever, I’m just glad that she was allowed to have a bone marrow transplant @ 52 to treat MDS. My husband died of MDS in 2004 at the age of 55. Back then they said 52 was too old to get the transplant so he passed away in just over 2 years after being diagnosed. Doctors had told him he had 10-15 years to live, yet he died in 2 1/2. I’m so happy for survivors!!!
Posted by: Cynthia | February 22, 2013, 1:19 am 1:19 am
Way to go… Use her for all she’s worth. Lance Armstrong’s gone, Apparently NBC has the replacement. AND SHES IN THE LIBERAL MEDIA!
Posted by: RAS | February 22, 2013, 2:56 am 2:56 am
By the way, how much time did Obama waste in recording a well-wish for her GMA homecoming–doesn’t he have better things to do???
Posted by: Esther | February 22, 2013, 3:25 am 3:25 am
No, Beth Stone, I won’t turn off my TV, I’ll just change channels and watch the Today show instead. Hopefully she won’t show up there too.
Posted by: Esther | February 22, 2013, 3:27 am 3:27 am
I lived in China for 7 years and the people there would be shocked to see some of the hateful responses that I have seen here.
The people in China are more civilized then some of you.
Posted by: Jim | February 22, 2013, 5:45 am 5:45 am
The Chinese, Obamas favorite race, but alas the Chinese are dirty, filthy liars and cheats, just like niqqers in America.
Posted by: Gumby | February 22, 2013, 5:54 am 5:54 am
Gumby, as I said, the haters.
Posted by: Jim | February 22, 2013, 8:23 am 8:23 am
‘You’ll Die in 1-2 Years’ to ‘You’ll Interview Obama’:
What’s the difference?
Posted by: Jay | February 22, 2013, 11:41 am 11:41 am
All the negative comments would have not been left if she was white, this country is really sick! If she was Barbara Walters or Barbara Bush everyone would have left positive comments, one person summed it up, she’s black, for the life of me I can’t understand this world! We are humans not black, not white, not red, not yellow!
Posted by: bankster | February 22, 2013, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
Watching your show on 20-20. Courageous is the only word that comes to mind. Particularly touched at the loss of your mother. My mother also sat at the piano and played hymns. The one your mom sang on this show was one she also sang. My mom died 5 years ago. One never gets over the loss of their mother. But, just shortly after she died, I also lost my beautiful daughter-in-law to breast cancer. She was only 29. Watching you go through this journey brought back Tanya’s journey. She too was courageous and brave and kind and sweet. We miss her every single day. I’m so happy to see you back and vibrant and filled with God’s grace and healing. God bless you, Robin.
Posted by: Jan Lewis | February 22, 2013, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
How do I join the donor registry???
Posted by: Doug | February 22, 2013, 11:04 pm 11:04 pm
I just watched the ABC 20/20 story with Robin Roberts. I have cried through the entire story. It is absolutely wonderfully done. I want to purchase a copy of this to help others that may have missed it. How can I order a DVD of this episode of 20/20 with Robin’s story ?
Thanks,
David Bell, RN
Posted by: David Bell | February 22, 2013, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm
I am so glad robin is back and looking healthy i wish her well god bless
Posted by: holly r | February 23, 2013, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
I prayed for Robin also and those that battle any form of disease it’s called “collective Prayer” awe never know when we will need prayers and the hate is so obvious yet it speaks volumes of where and what condition ones heart is in. Robin is fortunate in that her healing is taking place because she doesn’t waste her life hating and wishing bad things for others ignorance and evilness comes from inside and a person is just what they are until they allow God to change their heart and mind . A friend of mine says “Jacque you just can’t fix stupid “! The people the ones on here filled with so much hate are the ones needing prayer more than Robin ! To say “niggers in America ” shows we have not moved very much past ignorance Yet when the Twin Towers fell NO COLOR was too good or too bad to help one another America >>>People awaken Love doesn’t see color God forgive you for your heartless cold hearts in Jesus Name Amen .Robin keep on doing what your doing they hated Jesus without a cause so keep reaching out to share your story of faith and trust in God as you continue to heal Peace and blessings always .
Sincerely
Jacqueline
Posted by: Jacqueline H | February 24, 2013, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
To Esther who wrote the comments, above, re: her daughter with mental illness. I can understand (all too well) how painful it is to cope with the devastating reality of mental illness, since it seems so hopeless and because families and patients are stigmatized and patronized without adequate therapeutic or diagnostic help. It is probably the cruelest type of disease, since the person’s basic personality and human attributes are ripped away by the disease, and even the most essential cognitive abilities can not be depended upon. But as another “survivor” of breast cancer, who also went through the multitude of treatments that Robin endured years ago, I can say without exaggeration, that her ability to have undergone this second horrific experience is truly remarkable and admirable. I honestly do not believe I could have withstood a second round of chemotherapy, let alone the bone marrow transplant that Robin somehow took on. She is beyond courageous. I can’t tell you how amazing it is that she could actually have returned to work so soon after her most recent physical and emotional ordeal. She deserves all the admiration and respect that is being heaped on her…. and much more.
Posted by: anne vincent | March 6, 2013, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
feel bettah boo
Posted by: Herro | March 16, 2013, 5:16 pm 5:16 pm