PBS' Jim Lehrer sent the following note, obtained by FishbowlDC, to all staffers today:

From: Jim Lehrer
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 3:37 PM
To: REDACTED
Subject: A thank you

Dear Boys and Girls, Friends and Colleagues:

I made it. By any measurement, including those of the imagination and the soul, I couldn't be doing better. The initial impact of the operation was a lot like being run over by a truck--make that a bus, an ACF-Brill IC 41 Silversides Air-Conditioned Thruliner, to be exact.

There remain a few bruises and scars to heal but there is progress--literally--every day. The heart things, including the new valve stolen from a pig on my behalf, are moving right along the way they were intended.

I want all of you to know that Kate, Jamie, Lucy, Amanda and I could not have gone through this without the real and spiritual support of you, our NewsHour/MLP family. Your messages of love and encouragement have kept us going—and smiling. That gift basket you sent to Boston is the largest of its kind in the world, I am sure. It's also the only one that featured a Peter Pan bus. Thank you.

Thank you for what you have done for us, thank you for being the people you are.

There is no firm return schedule yet. The good news for me is that it will be only a matter of a few weeks and that I plan to pick up exactly where and how I left off. The bad news for everyone else is that it will be only a matter of a few weeks and that I plan to pick up exactly where and how I left off...

Again, I thank you all; I love you all.

Jim.