ABC’s Barbara Walters just announced on “The View” that she will be having her heart valve replaced later this week.
Walters told viewers, “Lots of people have done this and I have known of this condition for a while now and my doctors and I have decided that this is the best time to do the surgery.”
In a note to staff ABC News president David Westin writes, “As those of us who work with Barbara know, she’s in excellent condition. So, we have every reason to expect a great result and a speedy recovery.”
Calling her “hot topic for the morning,” 80-year-old Walters says her recuperation is coming at the right time: “Since the summer is coming up I can take a nice vacation.”
Westin’s note after the jump…
From: Westin, David L.
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 11:03 AM
To: #ABCTV News ALL
Cc: Sweeney, Anne X.
Subject: Barbara Walters
Barbara has just announced on the View that she will be having a heart valve replaced later this week and will be out for a period of recuperation. This is something she’s known she would have to have done for some time. She was originally planning to do it later in the summer, but various scheduling issues came together, and this week made the most sense. It is not urgent; she is feeling great. But she’s decided it’s best to get it out of the way.
There’s no denying that this is serious surgery. But it’s also a type of surgery that has been done often and successfully. And, as those of us who work with Barbara know, she’s in excellent condition. So, we have every reason to expect a great result and a speedy recovery.
Barbara has asked that we not reach out to her with cards, flowers, visits, etc. It’s not that she doesn’t welcome the affection and concern; it’s that she needs to stay focused on her recovery and, knowing Barbara, she’d feel the need to respond to everyone immediately when she should be resting.
I’ll do my best to keep you posted from time to time on how she’s doing.