Kelly Ripa was not in her usual seat on July 27 on the daytime talk show she and husband Mark Consuelos host together. Maybe the bubbly TV personality's fans are worried. There is an explanation for her absence, however. Ripa, according to Consuelos, underwent painful oral surgery. He shared on Monday's edition of Live With Kelly & Mark, "Kelly sends her love. It's a gum graft surgery, and her dentist said five years ago, 'You can do it in about five years,' and she joked, like, 'I didn't think I'd still be on the air in five years.'"
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He added that she is "doing great." Nevertheless, the aftereffects of the surgery are discomfort, plus not being permitted to speak for a while during the healing process. Kevin Jonas of the Jonas Brothers, who was subbing for Kelly Ripa, wisecracked, "That's got to be the hardest thing that she's ever done," referring to the enforced silence.
Ripa Is Following a Special Regimen for Now
She is under all kinds of restrictions. Mark Consuelos went into some detail. "There's a list of things that you're not allowed to do: Talking, talking, talking! She has to eat soft food, can't suck out of a straw, you can't examine it, which means pulling down the lip. Last night, she was like, 'Can you look!?'"
Furthermore, he said she can tolerate pain well. Still, this was pretty uncomfortable. "But, this one hurts, so I know it's bad," Consuelos mentioned.
Consuelos Had His Own Ordeal Earlier This Year
Mark Consuelos lost his beloved dad, Saul, this spring. Both he and Ripa publicly mourned his sad passing. On their show on April 6, they spoke of him on air and what he meant to them. Consuelos sorrowfully said, "Two weeks ago today, my father passed away after a long bout with an illness. He passed away peacefully. Such a fascinating man."
Kelly Ripa agreed with him. "You were blessed more because you knew him his whole life. I only got to know my father-in-law for 31 years. But they were the best 31 years of my life." She added emotionally, "I can honestly say I will miss him every day for the rest of my life, as I know you will, as our children will. He was the greatest person I've ever known. He really is so symbolic of everything you are."
