The Obamas welcome back Robin Roberts as she returns to Good Morning America 174 days after she left for life-saving bone marrow transplant

Robin Roberts has returned to Good Morning America exactly five months after she underwent a bone marrow transplant in her battle against a rare blood disorder.
The beloved host was given a raucous welcome by her fellow hosts - and there were even congratulatory messages from the Obamas, Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton and actor Bradley Cooper.
Roberts, who took a break from the show as she fought myelodysplastic syndrome, looked relaxed, healthy and proudly displayed her closely-cropped hair as she returned to the co-host's chair.
'Hi, it's Robin, and I've been waiting 174 days to say this: Good morning, America!' she said. 'I am so full of gratitude. I share this morning, this day of celebration, with everyone.'
Scroll down for video

Happy to be back: Robin Roberts looks healthy as she returns to host Good Morning America with George Stephanopoulos five months after she received a life-saving bone marrow transplant

Welcome message: Michelle and President Obama passed on their best wishes to Roberts in a video

'I keep pinching myself and I realise this is real,' she said. 'This is actually happening, and I don't have my froggy slippers on, or do I?'
Her return, which had been promoted two weeks ago by ABC, was celebrated by the show's fans as thousands sent well-wishes to Roberts on social networking sites and brandished signs across the country and outside the studio in Time Square.

 

The Obamas also shared in the celebration, welcoming Roberts back with a video message
'We just want you to know that the whole Obama family - we've been thinking about you and praying for you and rooting for you every step of the way,' the first lady said.
Her husband added: 'You've been an inspiration to all of us and we couldn't be happier doing what you do best... Robin, it's great to see you back in that chair and we're all excited to start our morning with you once again.'

Joy: Roberts grins and looks relaxed as she sits at her desk for her first live GMA show since August

Return: Crew members lined up by the entrance to welcome Roberts as she arrived at 5 a.m.

Together again: Roberts introduced the show and grinned alongside her fellow GMA hosts

Roberts, 52, struggled to contain her emotions as she thanked everyone for their support, including viewers, her family, her colleagues, medical staff and the executives of the show.
'Our viewers, they have been so incredibly wonderful and I appreciate that,' she said. 'When I was at home watching with my froggy slippers, and I saw those people out there, it was just wonderful.'
Her fight to regain her health with the help of yoga and doctors had been documented by the show over the past five months. On today's program, she was joined by her doctors and nurses and led a standing ovation for them.
Her oncologist Dr Gail J. Roboz said Roberts looked ready to return to the show after they held a test-run in January - but added that she did not expect the Oscars and an interview with Michelle Obama to be Roberts' first assignments.