Hoda Kotb returned to the Today show Monday morning after a two-week absence.
Kotb, an award-winning journalist and mother of two, addressed the “family health matter” her colleagues previously stated took her away from work.
“My youngest, Hope, was in the ICU for a few days and in the hospital for a little more than a week,” she said at the beginning of the morning show. “I’m so grateful she’s home. She is back home. I was waiting for that day to come. And we are watching her closely. I’m just so happy.”
She did not elaborate about the reason Hope’s hospitalization or her current condition.
Kotb then turned to Savannah Guthrie, who also returned to the show Monday morning after a brief hiatus due to testing positive for Covid, and talked about how grateful she’s felt over the past few weeks.
“When your child is ill, the amount of gratitude you can have for people who helped you out.”
“I’m grateful for the doctors at Weill Cornell who were amazing and the nurses. 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.”
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Kotb’s last live appearance on the Today show was February 17. She appeared in a taped segment which aired on President’s Day, and shortly after fans began to speculate.
She remained active on social media, though the posts she shared were more inspirational and encouraging and did not include any candid or family photos.
Craig Melvin assured fans she was “okay” and she had taken time off to deal with a “family health matter.”
Kotb is a mother to daughter Haley Joy, 6, and Hope Catherine, 3.
Not only are we so glad to see Hoda back on television, but we’re happy to hear her daughter is out of the hospital. Hopefully whatever caused Hope’s hospitalization be in the past.
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