Hoda Kotb's Daughter, 3, Was in ICU - 'Today' Host Who Was Told She'd Never Have Kids Finally Returns to TV

Hoda Kotb has not been in her anchor chair for a few weeks. Her daughter Hope was ill and admitted into the ICU. Despite the stress of watching her child fight for life, Kotb was grateful for her family because a few years ago, having children looked like a far fetched idea.

"Today" co-host, Hoda Kotb, has not been missing from her anchor chair for personal reasons. Kotb's three-year-old daughter, Hope, was in the ICU for over a week.

The talk show host expressed how stressful the situation was and how much she longed to see her daughter back home.

Hoda Returns Today, Telling about Her Daughter in ICU.

After a tough time watching her daughter fight for her life in the ICU, Kotb was relieved when she got to take her child home. "I was waiting for that day to come," she said, adding that they were keeping a close eye on her.

Since having her daughter home, Kotb has expressed immense gratitude to everyone that played a role in helping her child and supported her through this difficult time.

She thanked the nurses who dedicated their time to help her daughter every minute of her stay. Kotb thanked the doctors of Weil Cornell, "And I'm grateful to my family, and I'm grateful to friends like you who were there every single day. So, I want to say thank you for that. I love you," said Kotb.

The talk show host expressed how much she learned about the importance of community and having people in her corner during such a challenging time.

Fans also empathized with Kotb. They could see the hurt, and how drained she was from the whole experience, but her supporters were happy her daughter was out of hospital and that Kotb had loved ones taking care of her.

Her Fight to Become a Mom after Cancer

The journey to motherhood was not easy for Kotb. She opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis in 2007. She remembered talking to her doctors about freezing her eggs, but with her cancer treatment, it was near impossible for her to conceive in the future.

The reality that had just been presented to her was harsh and painful, and Kotb recalled being in her room and sobbing all day. She blamed herself for not acting quickly enough, "Well, that's that, isn't it? Like, you almost blame yourself. 'Why didn't I do this? Why didn't I do that?'" she expressed.

The thought of being unable to have children became so unbearable that Kotb pushed it out of her mind, especially because being a mom was one of the things she always wanted to be. But the talk show host focused on undergoing her mastectomy and recovering.

Nonetheless, Kotb surprised her viewers when she announced that she and her ex-fiance, Joel Schiffman, adopted a daughter, Haley, in 2017. She was born on February 14, and to Kotb, her Valentine's baby is the love of her life. She expanded her family again in 2019 and welcomed Hope.

She remembered bringing up the conversation of having a second child to her ex-fiance. Kotb said she wanted Haley to have a brother or sister to help her get through life, and luckily Schiffman said, "what took you so long."

The journalist also spoke about the moment Hope was handed to her after birth. She said her heart grew bigger as soon as she held her in her arms.

She and Schiffman had already decided on Hope's name before birth. Kotb said she loved the name because she knew there were many more women hoping for the moment they get to hold their child.

The transition of having a sibling was smooth sailing for Haley. It was another special moment of motherhood that Kotb shared with viewers.

When Hope arrived, Haley immediately embraced her big sister duties. Her mother revealed that she woke up each morning to kiss her and insisted on a good night kiss too.

But what was more special for the mother of two was when Haley called Hope her friend. She realized that her daughters would grow up to be each other's support systems throughout their lives.

Another conversation Kotb had to tackle was about her children's adoption. She said she was honest about how she got to be their mother from the beginning.

Even though she did not believe they fully understood what she meant, she put in in simple but beautiful words. The mother of two said, "You didn't come from mommy's tummy; you came from my heart."

Kotb and her fiance called off their engagement in 2022. The host was grateful for Schiffman and the children they share. But her break-up did not feel like the end of the world because she felt strong to handle motherhood alone.

However, until a few years ago, the journalist did not think she would ever have a family. She admitted that her idea of family has always been the nuclear kind that she grew up with.

However, after surviving cancer and turning 50, it became clear that there were multiple ways to build a family, and each day she is surprised and happy to have her two daughters.

Hoda’s Ex-partner She Is Co-parenting with after Break-up

Before Schiffman and Kotb decided to go their separate ways, they were together for eight years and referred to each other as lifelong partners.

The former couple got engaged in 2019 and were forced to postpone their wedding because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the peak of the pandemic, Kotb said she did not know when they would be walking down the aisle, but she was not worried because they already felt married.

As the pair now moves into a co-parenting relationship, Kotb was asked if she and Schiffman would celebrate Thanksgiving together. The talk show host said her family was coming to visit, so she would spend time with them and Schiffman would get time with the girls.

However, Schiffman and Kotb are committed to having a healthy co-parenting relationship. Even though they did not spend Thanksgiving as a family of four, they got together for Christmas.

Kotb thanked her ex-fiance for pushing her to become a mother. She believed the stability of their relationship was vital in making the adoption process easier.