"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" host Ty Pennington is recovering from surgery to remove his appendix, but he plans to keep doing his job while he recuperates.

Pennington, 38, was working on an episode in his hometown of Atlanta when he was admitted to the hospital with acute appendicitis. He had an appendectomy on Saturday (Jan. 15).

Despite being laid up following the surgery, Pennington plans to continue his duties as "design team leader" on the ABC series, allowing "EM: Home Edition" cameras to film him as he does his job electronically.

"I don't want to let the family down, and all of us with the show want to give them the new house they deserve," Pennington says in a statement. "Thanks to phones and e-mails, I will be able to maintain my part by giving input to the other designers and discussing our plans for the house. I am just so glad this happened in Atlanta, where I have so much support from my family and friends."

Executive producer Tom Forman says the inclusion of Pennington's illness in the show stays true to "Home Edition's" mission: "Our show has always been authentic in the way it portrays reality, and this is just another testament to that."

An airdate for the episode featuring Pennington's surgery hasn't been set.