By Jen Heger - Breaking Celebrity News Assistant Managing Editor

Good Morning America's Robin Roberts is responding well to her bone marrow transplant but the popular journalist isn't expected to return to work until next year, Breaking Celebrity News is exclusively reporting.

"Robin is doing great and her blood tests are indicating that in the very early stages of receiving the bone marrow transplant to treat her MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome) her body is recovering well,"  a source close to Roberts tells Breaking Celebrity News exclusively. "Robin isn't expected to return to work until next year though despite probably being released from the hospital at the end of October.

"Robin is exhausted from the chemo she had to undergo before the transplant but she remains in very good spirits. This is much tougher physically for her than the treatment she had for breast cancer, but Robin is a fighter and truly believes that this happened to her for a reason. Since the MDS diagnosis, Robin wanted to bring awareness to the need for bone marrow donors. Robin was lucky that her sister was a match for her but she is determined to do everything possible for others suffering with cancer."

As previously reported, Chicago-Sun Times television critic, Tom Shales, accused Good Morning America of using Roberts' serious illness as a"promotional opportunity."

The television critic insisted the criticism was “Something That Must Be Said.”

He wrote: “We all wish Robin Roberts well. And we hope she is not being charged with sick days, considering the fact that her illness has practically become