Fans of Good Morning America were surprised by Lara Spencer’s absence from the show this week, and the longtime ABC host has now revealed the personal reason behind it. 
The 55-year-old television personality shared that she recently underwent surgery on both feet, marking another important step in a long battle with chronic pain that began decades ago.
Posting photos from the hospital on Instagram, Spencer showed both feet wrapped in protective bandages as she smiled alongside her orthopedic surgeon. Despite appearing slightly groggy after the procedure, she kept her trademark sense of humor.
“If I look a little groggy, it’s thanks to this guy who just gave me a new pair of boots,” she joked, adding that she hopes to trade the medical footwear for cowboy boots in about six weeks.
According to Spencer, the operation involved two separate procedures. Her right foot required the removal of a metal plate that had been inserted during surgery the previous year. The more complicated operation focused on her left foot, where doctors addressed damage stemming from a diving accident she suffered while competing in college.
She recalled that the injury happened during a reverse one-and-a-half dive when she struck the diving board, severely damaging several toes and joints. At the time, treatment options were limited.
Doctors simply taped the injured foot, advised her to let it heal naturally, and told her she would likely have to live with the discomfort.
Years later, advances in orthopedic medicine made corrective surgery possible, and Spencer credited renowned foot and ankle specialist Dr. Marty O’Malley at Hospital for Special Surgery for giving her that opportunity.
The update quickly prompted an outpouring of support from colleagues and friends.
ABC News’ Deborah Roberts encouraged her by saying she’d be “twirling again in no time,” while former GMA chief medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton joked that only Lara would choose to have surgery on both feet at once. Rebecca Jarvis also sent heartfelt wishes for a smooth and speedy recovery.
This isn’t Spencer’s first procedure with Dr. O’Malley. In 2023, she revealed he had repaired a torn plantar plate and ligament in her foot after the condition gradually worsened over time.
Long before becoming one of America’s most recognizable television personalities, Spencer excelled as a competitive diver at Pennsylvania State University. She attended Penn State on an athletic scholarship for springboard and platform diving, earned national rankings during her collegiate career, and was named an All-American athlete in 1991 before graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism.
Throughout her broadcasting career, Spencer has become a familiar face through programs including Good Morning America, Nightline, The Insider, The Early Show, and Antiques Roadshow.
ABC has not announced when Spencer is expected to return to Good Morning America, but judging from the support she’s received, viewers will be eagerly awaiting her return.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
