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Weeks after his accident, Jeff Hogan returns to the WRAL anchor desk

Jeff will need surgery and is still recovering, but his spirits are high.

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When Renee Chou visited her co-anchor Jeff Hogan, who was badly injured in a surfing accident on July 28, she was relieved. Jeff will need surgery and is still recovering, but his spirits are high.

Renee visited Jeff during a physical therapy session to talk about how his recovery is going and how this experience has changed him.

"I'm great," he said. "Doing fine. Better every day. I can't wait until tomorrow, because really I feel better every day."

His words were encouraging, because just 18 days ago, Jeff was in the ICU after body-surfing at the beach.

"I was completely paralyzed facedown in the water," said Jeff. "I saw that white light for a split second. I heard those bubbles rushing by me and I thought for a split second this is how it happens. And then I was like no, no, this is not how it happens today."

Jeff is safe thanks to his daughters, Skyler and Kate, who were in the water with him and who are his heroes.

The two held their dad up so he could breathe and pulled him out with the help of others. About eight hours later, in the hospital, Jeff was able to regain some feeling.

"My legs came back first," said Jeff. "And then my arms and my hands and everything else." Jeff describes his recovery as celebrating the small actions that mark big milestones -- like taking his first steps after the accident.

"Tying my shoes was a big day, that was great," said Jeff. "I've been blessed with great health. And to not have that right now for a bit of a spell, it's something you want to take stock in and be thankful for."

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Jeff still has some numbness and stiffness in his hands, but he's working through that in physical therapy. With his wife, Jeanne, and his daughters, he'll wait for the next reason to celebrate.

"You know family and faith are tops in my recovery, but working hard and playing hard is my fuel for life, so I can't wait to get back to those types of things to make me whole again," said Jeff.

Jeff is excited to announce that he is coming back to work Monday, and he'll be beside Renee at the anchor desk from 4:30 to 7 a.m.

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