Meteorologist Gil Simmons Discusses Health Recovery, Return Date To WTNH-TV

WTNH-TV Senior Meteorologist Gil Simmons suffered a couple of "kinked arteries " in his neck during the early morning hours of July 5, which has kept him sidelined and off the airwaves while he recovers, he told a Facebook Live audience Wednesday afternoon.

"I wish I had a better story for you," Simmons joked about why he's been off the air for just shy of a month while he recovers.

The situation, however, has been no joking matter for Simmons. While he was quick to say that he didn't suffer a heart attack, he said he was awoken at about 1:45 a.m. on the 5th by a "tingling sensation" and knew something was wrong. It took him nearly 15 minutes just to get down the stairs, and he went to the hospital with his wife.

Since then, he has had to work hard at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Wallingford just to be able to walk again and write. He also credits the staffs at Guilford Hospital and Yale-New Haven Hospital for helping him recover.

Wednesday's Facebook Live chat, which is embedded below, was conducted with WTNH's social media expert Vanessa Wojtusiak, and the two spent about 20 minutes updating viewers on Simmons' condition, thanking fans for their support and answering questions.

"It's been overwhelming how many people have reached out," said Simmons, who added that the support has been a huge help in his recovery.

When he plans to return to the WTNH airwaves is unknown, he said, primarily because he has not yet been given medical clearance to return to work, but he hopes to be able to return soon.

"I'm under some tight restrictions," he said. "But believe me when I tell you, I miss going to work! I know some people are saying you better get back to the hospital because that can't be true that someone would say that they miss work. But I'm telling you from right here, I miss starting my morning with all of you."

Screen capture of Facebook Live chat with Gil Simmons and Vanessa Wojtusiak