For Robin Roberts, family will always come first.
The Good Morning America host, who suffers from a rare blood and bone marrow disorder, postponed her previously scheduled treatment to attend her mother's funeral, Roberts announced in a September 4 blog post.
Roberts' 88-year-old mother, Lucimarian, passed away at age 88 August 30. Luckily, the acclaimed TV journalist left Good Morning America one day earlier than expected in order to be at her mother's side in Mississippi.
"I find great comfort in knowing my mother lived an amazing life," Roberts said in her blog. "To help me deal with my immense grief my family tells me momma gave me one final gift as her last act. She waited for me to get home on Thursday to say goodbye. She was there when I took my first breath and what a privilege to hold her sweet hand when she took her last breath."
"Momma knew she wasn't physically able to be with me for my bone marrow transplant. My siblings say mom wanted to spare me the agony it would have been if she had passed and I couldn't be there," Roberts continued. "That thought was weighing heavily on me."
She added, "Momma found a way to be with me every step of the way on my journey. I am humbled by her selflessness."
Roberts, who beat breast cancer in 2008, will receive a bone marrow transplant from her sister, Sally-Ann. "Today I was supposed to be admitted to the hospital," she wrote September 4. "Instead I am here in Mississippi standing proudly with my family as we honor our beloved mother and celebrate her life. When I return to NYC and walk through those hospital doors next week momma will be right there with me."
