Hoda Kotb is back on the Today show, and she talked about why she had been gone for a few weeks.
Kotb hasn’t been at the morning news desk since February 17, but she went back on Monday and sat next to co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. She went on to say that her younger daughter, Hope Catherine, was in the intensive care unit of a hospital because she was sick.
Kotb, who is 58 years old, said that her youngest daughter, Hope, had been in the hospital for a little more than a week and spent a few days in the ICU. “I’m very happy that she’s back home. She went back to her home. That day was one I was looking forward to. We are also keeping a very close eye on her. I am just really happy.”
Kotb didn’t say why the child, who is only three years old, was taken to the hospital, but she did say, “Do you know what I’ve come to find out, Savannah? There is no limit to how much you can be thankful to the people who helped you when your child was sick. So, I’m grateful to the doctors and nurses, both of whom did a great job. She told Guthrie, “I am thankful for my family and for people like you who were there every day.” So, I’d like to tell you how much I appreciate that.”
Hoda Kotb talked about the topic in more detail during a later segment of Today with Hoda & Jenna. She agreed with Jenna Bush Hager that it had been a “difficult two weeks” for her.
At the beginning of the interview, Kotb said, “I feel like life is one way on a Monday. We all have Mondays, and we all complain about them. But then Tuesday comes, and something really hits you, and you realise that Monday was actually pretty great.” “So, it meant that we had to take little Hope to the hospital. She stayed in the hospital for another week after a few days in the intensive care unit (ICU). It was a very scary thing to go through. She is also smart and has a lot of life. I can’t even put into words how glad I am that she’s back.”
Hoda Kotb said that she often talks about gratitude, but that she “found herself not living in that lane because I was afraid.” She said that when she realised that, it made her think about her situation and remind her that her family loves her and that she has an older daughter at home, a great support system, and doctors “They were people who were willing to try anything to make things better, and they did. So, there are times when you talk about being thankful, but when you’re at your breaking point, you think, “Do I feel it?”
Hoda Kotb told a story about a recent visit from Hope, who brought two paper stars covered in confetti with her. ” She said, “I got two, Mom. One is for me, and the other is for you.” “She could remember it. ” My internal monologue went something like this: “This child, even when she’s not feeling good, she’s still giving everything away.” I know I’ve been given a lot of good things, and I’m grateful, really, really, really grateful. And anyone who has ever been through an illness with a child, boy, I thought I understood you, but I didn’t until you were sitting in that position. I didn’t get it until you showed up. So, if you are one of the many people going through something, know that I understand.”
Early in the morning, Kotb tweeted a quote from the late Christopher Reeve, who played Superman on screen. “If you choose hope, anything is possible,” said the quote.
The last time Kotb was live on Today was on February 17. She later showed up in two parts that had already been taped. Last week, Guthrie was also not there because he tested positive for COVID. Their coworker Craig Melvin took some time to talk to the press about both of their absences on March 1. He said that Kotb was “fine” in general, but that she was having trouble with a “family health situation”
Kotb and her ex-boyfriend, Joel Schiffman, adopted both of their kids. Haley Joy, who is 5, is the younger of the two. In January 2022, she and Schiffman broke off their engagement. Since then, she’s been very happy with his job as a co-parent.