Robin Roberts Postpones Bone Marrow Treatment to Attend Mother's Funeral

"GMA" anchor says she has delayed the start of her transplant process by one week in order to be present for the burial of her family's matriarch.

Robin Roberts is about to begin a challenging new chapter of her life, but not before paying her respects to the woman who got her where she is today.

The "Good Morning America" anchor, currently on medical leave awaiting the start of her bone marrow transplant process, confirmed yesterday that she had opted to postpone the start of her treatment regimen by a week in order to be present for the funeral of her mother Lucimarian Tolliver Roberts, who passed away last Thursday.

See how Robin Roberts said goodbye to her beloved mother

"Today I was supposed to be admitted to the hospital...instead I am here in Mississippi standing proudly with my family as we honor our beloved mother and celebrate her life," Roberts wrote on her GMA blog. "When I return to NYC and walk through those hospital doors next week momma will be right there with me. Light, love and blessings to all."

The morning anchor in fact began her leave one day early after her mother fell ill in order to rush to her side.

"To help me deal with my immense grief my family tells me momma gave me one final gift as her last act," she wrote. "She waited for me to get home Thursday to say goodbye. She was there when I took my first breath and what a privilege to hold her sweet hand when she took her last breath.

Find out who will be filling in while Robin's away

"Momma knew she wasn't physically able to be with me for my bone marrow transplant. My siblings say mom wanted to spare me the agony it would have been if she had passed and I couldn't be there. That thought was weighing heavily on me."

And in the end, Robin was given one more gift from her late mother.

"Momma found a way to be with me every step of the way on my journey. I am humbled by her selflessness."

The 88-year-old matriarch, the first black woman to chair the Mississippi State Board of Education and a leader on the state's Gulf Coast, was laid to rest in Gulfport last night. More than 700 people showed up to pay their respects.

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