Craig Eliot returning to KOAA

After nearly three months away from the station, KOAA/Channels 5&30 morning meteorologist Craig Eliot is hoping to be back on the air April 16.

Back in February, Eliot felt some stiffness in his left knee. He's had surgeries in both knees, so at first he thought nothing of it. When it swelled up, he went to see his doctor, but still wasn't particularly worried. Nor was his doctor, until he stuck Eliot's knee with a needle and found it badly infected with a hard-to-treat staph infection.

Three surgeries, three weeks in the hospital and months of round-the-clock anitbiotics later, Eliot said his doctors finally think he's on the mend. And, he says, the enforced layoff has actually been good for him.

"I spent a lot of time with my wife and my newborn daughter," Eliot said. "It’s taught me to do a little less and enjoy it a little more.
"I look at it as one of the better things that’s happened in my life," he said.

So, he's not eager to get back to work and the 2:30 a.m. alarm, but Eliot said he has missed the morning crew at KOAA.

"I’ve missed the people I work with," he said. "They have been amazing. We’re really really close on the morning crew."