Kathie Lee Gifford’s Recovery Journey: Overcoming a Fractured Pelvis and Embracing a Slower Pace

Kathie Lee Gifford, the beloved former “Today” show host, is recovering after a severe fall left her with a fractured pelvis. The 70-year-old TV personality shared details of her injury in a recent interview, explaining that she broke her pelvis in two places and spent over a week in the hospital following the accident.

Kathie Lee Gifford hospitalized with fractured pelvis after tripping and falling: ‘It’s my own fault’ https://t.co/SakghjlIxL pic.twitter.com/YBEGIQDraF

— Page Six (@PageSix) July 31, 2024

Gifford’s injury occurred shortly after she underwent hip replacement surgery. She recounted how she weakened her body by moving “300 books by myself” during book signings in Nashville. The day after her strenuous activity, she tripped while answering her door, resulting in the painful fracture.

“It didn’t take much because I was already weak in that spot,” Gifford told People magazine. “The next thing I knew, I was back in the hospital with a fractured pelvis: the front and the back. It’s more painful than anything I went through with the hip surgery. The pelvis is unbelievably painful, but here I am.”

Reflecting on the experience, Gifford described it as “humbling” and chose to stay in the hospital for a full week, admitting, “I don’t trust myself.” She acknowledged the realities of aging, noting, “You think you know your body, and the next thing you know, it changes as you get older. And as much as I don’t want to think about it, I am.”

Despite the challenging situation, Gifford maintained a positive outlook. She joked, “It’s summer for everybody but me, but it’s OK. I’ll get out to my little farm one of these days and stick my feet in my salt pool. The Lord is telling me it’s time to slow down. I’ve been running my whole life. The Lord is saying, ‘You’ve planted a gazillion roses. Try smelling them.'”

Kathie Lee Gifford fell at home fracturing her pelvis front & back while recuperating from hip replacements. #Today pic.twitter.com/fyuvTabbTB

— ~marlene~ 🧘🏼‍♀️ (@Septembers_Song) July 31, 2024

Gifford recently underwent hip replacement surgery, describing the recovery process as “one of the most painful situations of my entire life.” Her doctor attributed her condition to years of being constantly on the move, often in high heels, and pushing her body to its limits.

Even with these health challenges, Gifford has no regrets about how she’s lived her life. “Would I change that? No, I was doing what God put me on this earth to do. Every year of it, I was doing what He called me to do,” she said.

Gifford also has reason to celebrate, as she recently released her new book, “Herod and Mary: The True Story of the Tyrant King and the Mother of the Risen Savior.” The historical nonfiction work explores the rise of Herod, the threats of ancient corruption, and the journey of a teenage Mary in bringing Jesus into the world. She credited her son, Cody, for inspiring the book, saying he convinced her that these are stories that need to be told because people need hope.

Kathie Lee Gifford was hospitalized with a fractured pelvis while recovering from recent hip replacement surgery. https://t.co/t5pQRedFkK

— Us Weekly (@usweekly) July 31, 2024

“I don’t know how much time the Lord has me still on this earth,” Gifford reflected, “but for whatever time it is, I pray that I would be useful, kind, helpful, and loving to people. I am a strong woman, but I’ve spent 60 years trying to do godly work, trying to do the right thing, trying to love people, and trying to represent the kingdom of God.”

Major Points:

• Kathie Lee Gifford, 70, fractured her pelvis in two places after a fall following hip replacement surgery, requiring over a week in the hospital.
• Gifford weakened her body by moving 300 books alone during book signings, contributing to her injury when she tripped while answering her door.
• She found the experience “humbling” and chose to remain in the hospital for a week, acknowledging the challenges of aging and physical limitations.
• Despite the injury, Gifford maintains a positive outlook, seeing it as a sign to slow down and appreciate life more, noting she has “been running my whole life.”
• Gifford recently released a new book, “Herod and Mary,” inspired by her son, Cody, which explores historical and biblical themes and aims to provide hope to readers.

Lap Fu Ip – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News