“HODA KOTB’S HEARTFELT FAREWELL: TV HOST OPENS UP ABOUT HER PAINFUL JOURNEY WITH CANCER, ADOPTION, AND DAUGHTER HOPE’S BATTLE WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES – A MOTHER’S UNBREAKABLE LOVE AND THE LESSONS SHE’S LEARNED THROUGH LIFE’S STORMS”

After years of inspiring millions on Today, Hoda Kotb steps down to care for her youngest daughter, Hope, who is fighting Type 1 Diabetes. Hoda shares her personal tragedies, from surviving breast cancer and losing the ability to have biological children, to finding joy through adoption and embracing her children with boundless love. Her emotional story is a testament to resilience, motherhood, and the powerful lessons of love, gratitude, and perseverance. Click to discover the full story behind her decision and the inspiring legacy she leaves behind.

July 2, 2025 – New York City, New York

For millions of Americans, Hoda Kotb has been more than just a morning show host. She is a ray of sunshine, an inspiration, a friend who has started their day with them for decades. But behind the bright smile and endless energy lies a story of profound pain, irreparable losses, and an extraordinary journey where love transcended all limits, redefined life’s meaning, and turned the harshest challenges into a celebration of human resilience.

Now, as Hoda Kotb officially steps down from her co-hosting role on Today to dedicate herself entirely to caring for her youngest daughter, Hope, who is battling a serious illness, she opens her heart to share the personal tragedies, the illness that robbed her of the chance to be a biological mother, her boundless love for her two adopted children, and the life lessons she has learned through the storms.

The Dark Shadow of Breast Cancer: When the Dream of Motherhood Shattered

“I still remember the fateful day, the day my world came crashing down,” Hoda begins, her voice warm but tinged with sorrow. “It was February 2007. I was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

For Hoda, a woman full of life and who had always yearned to be a mother, the news was not just a death sentence for her health—it was a blow to her deepest dreams. “Surgery, treatment… everything happened so fast. I survived. But the price was high.”

Hoda tearfully admits that the cancer treatment made it nearly impossible for her to have children naturally. “When the doctors told me that my chances of being a biological mother were almost nil due to the effects of chemotherapy and radiation, it felt like a part of my heart had died. The dream of being pregnant, of feeling a life grow inside me… it was stolen from me.”

The pain of that moment, she says, was deeper than the physical scars from the surgery. “It was an emptiness, a sorrow that gnawed at me. I wondered, would I ever experience the fullness of motherhood? Would I ever know what it felt like to love a child of my own flesh?”

Boundless Love: Two Angels Through the Miracle of Adoption

But life, sometimes, has its own way of writing a fairytale. Though the biological door was closed, the door of unconditional love swung wide open. Hoda found light and hope through the path of adoption.

“In 2017, I welcomed Haley Joy into my life. She was a miracle. Haley came and filled every empty space in my heart that I thought would never be filled,” Hoda smiles, the light returning to her face. “I loved her from the moment I laid eyes on her. That love— it was no different. It was the purest, most intense love a mother could feel.”

Just two years later, in 2019, a second miracle came to Hoda’s life—little Hope Catherine. “When Hope came, I knew my family was complete. These two girls are my breath, my reason to live, my reason to fight every day.”

Hoda always emphasizes that the love she has for her adopted children is no less than the love a biological mother would feel. “Blood isn’t the only thing that defines motherhood. The heart is. I didn’t carry my children, but I’ve carried them in every beat of my heart.”

A New Storm: When Illness Strikes the Family Again

When life seemed to have found its peaceful rhythm, another storm hit—this time with her youngest daughter, Hope. In February 2023, Hope was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, and it wasn’t until May 2025 that Hoda had the strength to reveal the heartbreaking truth: Hope was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

“This is a terrifying challenge,” Hoda says, her voice trembling. “A chronic illness, no cure, requiring 24/7 monitoring. I’ve had to learn how to calculate carbohydrates, how to inject insulin, how to recognize when her blood sugar is too high or too low. Every day is a battle.”

The pain of a mother witnessing her child endure constant injections and tests is indescribable. “Every time I watch her bravely face the needle, my heart breaks. But Hope is a warrior. She teaches me about resilience every single day.”

Hope’s illness forced Hoda to make the most difficult decision of her career: stepping away from Today to fully care for her daughter. “I can’t do my job well and ensure Hope gets the constant care she needs. For me, my children will always be my number one priority. I had to be with Hope, holding her hand through every hardship.”

The Meaning of Life According to Hoda Kotb: Love Is Everything

Through life’s ups and downs—from the pain of cancer and the loss of the ability to have biological children, to the overwhelming joy of adoption, and now, the battle with Hope’s illness—Hoda Kotb has discovered profound truths about life’s meaning.

“For me, the meaning of life isn’t in the spotlight, or in awards, or fame,” Hoda firmly declares, her gaze filled with peace. “The meaning of life is in love. The love I’ve received from my family, from friends, from the audience. And most importantly, the love I have for Haley and Hope.”

“Every day, I feel grateful. Grateful for being alive, grateful for having my children, grateful for every precious moment. Life isn’t about avoiding the storms, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain, how to find joy in the smallest things.”

She also believes that her challenges have made her a stronger, more compassionate person. “I’ve learned that resilience doesn’t mean never falling—it means falling and getting back up. I’ve learned that everyone is fighting a battle we don’t know about. And because of that, we must always be kind.”

A Heartfelt Prayer from Hoda: Wishing Everyone Health and Peace

Before closing the emotional conversation, Hoda Kotb sends a sincere message to everyone—her loyal viewers, those fighting illness, and those searching for meaning in life.

“I want to send my deepest wishes to all of you. Cherish your health. Cherish your loved ones. Live each day as if it were a gift. Life is short, and it’s precious.”

“I pray for all of you to be healthy, in body and spirit. I pray that every family is safe and surrounded by love. Let’s always be kind to each other because we never know the burdens others are carrying.”

Hoda Kotb may be stepping away from the screen every morning, but her legacy will forever remain a source of inspiration. Her story is a reminder that love, resilience, and gratitude are the beacons that light our lives, guiding us through every storm, helping us find true meaning and peace within our souls. She is not just a TV host; she is a life lesson.