Hoda Kotb is talking more about her youngest daughter’s health problems and how the whole family is dealing with them.
We already told you that Kotb missed two weeks of work as an anchor on The Today Show last year while her youngest daughter Hope was in the intensive care unit (ICU).
The specifics of Hope’s health problems are being kept secret by Kotb, but in an interview with People, Kotb said it’s still a daily battle for Hope.
“There was a scary part. Every parent who has been through something scary with their child knows what it’s like. “In a way, you just can’t believe your child is sick,” Kotb told People.
“It’s hard to believe you can’t do anything. It’s crazy to think that no matter what you do, you can’t make it go away or protect her, which are all things parents should do. That’s a place I’ve never been before.”
Hope was lucky enough to be able to leave the hospital and start living a somewhat normal life again. Kotb says she and her doctors still “manage Hope’s health” every day. She says Hope is still the same “intuitive and smart” kid who will “give you her last blueberry” she always was.
“Things have stabilized,” Kotb told her fans about Hope’s health, adding that they had hired extra help to make sure it was their top priority. That being said, Kotb also wants Hope to have as normal of a life as possible.
“It’s tough because I don’t want Hope to be labeled.” She’s a kid who is so lively, and most days everything is great. I don’t want the way people see her to change.
Kotb says she has to put her own worries about her daughter Hope in the background. She also says that as Hope’s mother, she hasn’t slept through the night because she is always watching for her monitors to go off.
“I’m not going to worry about her.” A child can’t carry that much. Even if you just ask, “How are you feeling?” ‘Are you feeling good today, honey?’ is the same as saying ‘I’m worried,’ since you don’t say that about your other child. What’s going on? I’ll tell the nanny, nurse, or whoever, and if she’s there, she’ll ask, “Am I okay?” I really want her to just be a kid and not worry about anything grown-up.
Kotb says she’s trying to find time for herself because “when you’re dead on your feet…you’re nothing to nobody.”
“I think you need a day off to rest.” “And I saw how worn out I was when I wasn’t doing that,” the mother of two said.
There are many ways that Kotb has spent her “me time,” such as meditating, going on dates, or teaching her daughters about God to strengthen her faith.
“I tell them, ‘God is everywhere.'” “And I believe it has helped Hope, especially during this time in her life,” Kotb said.
“She wants to be safe.” I ask her, “What are you looking at?” when she looks up. What is that? “Angels are here,” she says. ‘Where?’ I ask. She says, “Here.” I’m lying down there. It’s so beautiful right now that I can’t stand to be noisy.
When it comes to Hope’s health problems, Kotb says they aren’t “out of the woods” yet. Despite this, Hope’s mom is sure that her fight will have “served a purpose.”
“When I look at her, I think, ‘Wow, you grew into such an amazing kid who is so strong and ready for life despite all the bad things that have happened to her.'”
Kotb is sure that her daughter “can handle anything.” Kotb knows Hope will be okay because of this.
