Al Roker is “greater than grateful” as he celebrates his 69th birthday together with his household and new granddaughter.

On Sunday, the TODAY co-anchor kicked off “one other journey across the solar” by posting an Instagram video of himself on a nature stroll, expressing how glad he’s to be alive after final yr’s well being issues.

“That is my 69th anniversary of orbiting the solar,” Roker started. “And after the whole lot I went by way of on the finish of final yr, I’m greater than grateful.”

Roker, who beat prostate most cancers in 2020, suffered new well being points final November when he awoke in the course of the night time with extreme abdomen pains. His internist decided that he had blood clots in his lungs and Roker was launched after remedy — however was quickly readmitted to the hospital for a 7-hour surgical procedure.

It turned out that the bleeding was because of a perforation in his duodenum, the primary a part of the small gut. His medical group repaired it, resectioned a part of his colon and eliminated his gallbladder.

“I am blessed to be alive,” he instructed PEOPLE completely on the time. He thanked his spouse Deborah on Sunday for “getting him out of the hospital.”

Somewhat over six months later, on July 3, Roker was capable of expertise the enjoyment of turning into a first-time grandfather. “I might look into this face all day,” he captioned his first put up of Sky Clara later that month.

In a brand new picture posted on Sunday, the TV character held his granddaughter, who was wearing a pink onesie with a white bow round her head.

“Finest #birthdaypresent,” Roker captioned the picture of his 36-year-old daughter Courtney’s first child.

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Roker and his household had dinner at Bimi’s Canteen & Bar in Hudson, New York, the place the weatherman has a house together with his spouse Deborah Roberts, 62. Then they took their son Nicholas, 21, to school.

“Again to the #emptynest after dropping our younger man at school for sophomore yr,” he wrote subsequent to a photograph with Deborah and Nicholas. The couple additionally shares a 3rd baby, Leila, 24.

Shortly after Sky was born, Roker spoke with Immediately co-hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Craig Melvin and Sheinelle Jones about turning into a grandparent. “It’s magical, it truly is,” he mentioned.

“The factor is, everybody tells you it’s going to be ‘this factor’ and also you don’t know; it’s like once they let you know about having your first baby. After which to carry this little lady, figuring out virtually 35 years in the past I held her mother? And right here she is, 5 lbs., 15 oz. 19 inches lengthy and he or she’s simply excellent.”

“I’m telling you, she’s a terrific sleeper,” he added of Sky. “Sleeps for 4 hours, wakes up, goes to the lavatory, sleeps one other 4. We’re on the identical schedule!”