Millions of us wake up to Robin Roberts every weekday morning on ABC's Good Morning America, where she co-hosts the most-watched morning show in America. GMA 's popularity - and Roberts's powerful connection with her viewers - were forged in the midst of her courageous fight of some truly epic challenges behind the scenes. In 2007, Roberts was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was open about the struggle, fought it, and beat it...only to be hit with the diagnosis in 2012 of Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), a rare form of cancer that attacks the blood and bone marrow. And the hits kept on coming: Two days before receiving a bone marrow transplant from one of her sisters, she lost her beloved mother. But through it all, Roberts never stopped fighting-and, against all odds, today she is alive, healthy, and stronger than ever.
The college basketball star-turned sportscaster-turned America's morning sweetheart has been a powerful inspiration to her friends, family, and of course, her viewers, by facing her struggles with strength, grace, honesty and optimism. She eloquently and poignantly recounted her journey in her book Everybody's Got Something. Co-host George Stephanopoulos recently called her ''the heart of GMA, the emotional center of the show.' And the executives at ABC know exactly how essential her charisma is to the success of their morning television hit, recently awarding her a new contract worth an estimated $14 million. In a moving and candid conversation at the second annual Forbes Women's Summit, Roberts shared with me the highs and shattering lows of her heroic journey. Here are just some of the life-changing words of wisdom she's learned along the way.
Enjoy The Journey
For 852 weeks, GMA was second to NBC's Today Show in the rankings. And on the morning of April 19, 2012, Roberts and her team learned they'd taken over the #1 spot. But Roberts' elation was short-lived. Later that afternoon, Roberts learned she suffered from a rare disease of the blood and bone marrow, and that she had an estimated one or two years to live. 'How many of us feel like once we land that big venture, once we start that company, once we get married, once we have children....once, once, once, once, once...you'll have made it?' she asks.
Roberts's trials have taught her that it's not about the destination. 'It's about the journey, and we have to enjoy the journey,' she says. 'Lay down your regrets because all we have is now.' She keeps a picture on her coffee table of the GMA team celebrating the big news that was taken the morning of April 19 th. 'I look at that picture and I don't see it the same way as everybody else does,' Roberts says. 'But I love looking at it. And it's a stark reminder to enjoy the journey.'
Focus On The Fight, Not The Fright
'I'm a firm believer in the fact that we all want to accomplish something-it doesn't matter what it is,' Roberts says. 'And for me it was to stay alive. But you have to change the way you think in order to change the way you feel.' For her, and for all of us, that means choosing to focus on the fight instead of getting bogged down in fear and doubt. 'I had said to my family and friends, after breast cancer and losing my hair and the chemo and all that, 'Boy, if this ever comes back, I'm not going through this again.'
But when she was diagnosed with the new condition, she focused on the one 'magical word' her doctors uttered- cure, that a bone marrow transplant was a possible cure: 'I slapped my fists on the desk and I said, 'I'm in. Let's see what we can do.'' She had a 30% chance that one of her sisters would be a match...and luckily one was.
Make Your Mess Your Message
'When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I wasn't going to tell anybody,' recalls Roberts. It was her mother, who Roberts was very close to, who said, 'Make your mess your message...getting the word out about early detection could save lives.' And Roberts did - from her very public perch as co-host of GMA, she shined a spotlight on breast cancer screenings that has likely motivated thousands and thousands of women to be checked by their doctors who otherwise would not have. And then again, in 2012 with her new diagnosis, she was open and public about her battle and the disease. She and her sister have been very active in getting the word out to people about how life-changing it can be to put themselves on the bone marrow registry.
You Are Stronger Than You Realize
To call Roberts's bone marrow transplant and the subsequent recovery 'grueling' is an understatement. She went through 10 straight days of chemotherapy, followed by the transplant, and, because it completely depleted her immune system, was in isolation from everyone but medical professionals. Her throat was so raw that it felt like she'd swallowed a 'blow torch.' She was incredibly weak. She was alone in the hospital. And then one day she heard someone saying her name: Robin, Robin, Robin.
Roberts saw the eyes of a nurse named Jenny looking at her over her medical mask and she felt it was her mother speaking to her from another place, willing Roberts to stay with the living. 'At that moment I said, 'I am going to fight. I want to be here. You just find a way,' she says now. 'And that's what I did. I was patient and persistent and prayerful throughout.' We won't all have the experience of hearing a loved one cheering us on, but we can all find strength in unexpected places during unfathomable lows-we're stronger than we know.
Believe That The Best Is Always Yet To Come 'It takes courage to believe the best is yet to come, especially when you have two hairs on your head and you're flat on your back, and you're mourning the loss of the most important person in your life,' says Roberts. But that's exactly what she did in her darkest days, and she credits that belief for helping her through those dark days. And whether it's a health challenge, or a career challenge, or grief, or a struggle with a loved one...remembering that 'the best is yet to come' can be a powerful mantra of hope that can give you strength.
Be Present
Roberts believes that at her core, she is still the same person she was before her health issues, despite everything she's been through. 'My values are the same....my faith, family and friends,' she says. But one thing is different: 'I'm here,' she says. 'Not at work, not thinking about work, not on the way to work. I was totally consumed with work and the next big get,' she says. '[Now,] I'm experiencing life. I'm really grateful that I'm more aware of these wonderful opportunities.'
Roberts believes that her legacy to her viewers, fans, friends and family members is one of hope - hope that no matter what unexpected or painful things life throws your way, you believe you can face it with strength and purpose. And to never forget that you're not alone in your struggles. 'If we had a big bowl in the middle of this room, and you threw your problems in with everybody else's, you'd take yours back,' says Roberts. 'You'd look around and think 'I didn't know you were going through that. I think I'll just deal with what I got...I guarantee you this,' says Roberts. 'Everybody's got something.'
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