MNN - Mother Nature Network

Less than five months after undergoing a successful bone marrow transplant, "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts has announced she's ready to return. 

 

The 52-year-old will start a limited return to the program on Feb. 20, capping a courageous and public battle with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a blood and bone disease.

 

"I'm excited to re-join my wonderful 'GMA' family," Roberts wrote in a personal note on the "GMA" website. "I'm also looking forward to thanking YOU ... for your many

prayers and well wishes. Your compassion has been an enormous source of comfort to me and my family."

 

Since she revealed she was fighting the disease back in June 2012, Roberts has been updating the public periodically through her website on her battle with MDS, as well as promoting services that enable others to find bone marrow matches. 

 

"Bone marrow donors are scarce and particularly for African-American women," she writes. "I am very fortunate to have a sister who is an excellent match, and this greatly improves my chances for a cure. As you know from my recent interview with Mark Zuckerberg, organ donation is vitally important. Many people don't realize they can be bone marrow donors. I encourage everyone to sign up on a donor registry like bethematch.org." 

 

After her promotion, the amount of people signing up as potential bone marrow donors (including yours truly and many employees of ABC News) on Be the Match soared more than 1,800 percent.

 

Until her return, Roberts says she will head "to the beach for the next week to reflect and give thanks for my many blessings."

 

Check out a celeb-filled "Welcome Back" video below that was played for Roberts this morning.