Hoda Kotb Surprises Her ‘Today’ Show Co-Anchors With News She’s Adopted A Second Girl

Apr 22, 2019 by apost team

Hoda Kotb is sure raising and multiplying her family members. Together with her boyfriend, Joel Schiffman, the couple has adopted a little girl named Hope Catherine.

The little girl will be the little sister of a 2-year-old Haley Joy who was adopted by the couple in 2017.

Speaking to Everyday Health, Hoda explained that parenthood had a rough start for her. She battled cancer in 2007 after which she was not able to have her own children.

"I was in a meeting in my office and my phone rang. My first thought was: Why is this call interrupting me?," She said in the interview, "It was my doctor telling me I had cancer and I needed to go to his office right away. One thing that struck me was how weird it was to receive such life-altering news in such an impersonal way."

Whilst battling cance, she also split up with her then-husband Burzis Kanga.

"I separated from my ex-husband and went through our divorce while being treated for and recovering from breast cancer. I certainly don’t recommend juggling 2 brutal life scenarios at once. But dealing with both at the same time might have been oddly therapeutic for me."

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Hoda wanted to be a mother but didn't know how her dream would come about in her situation. Not until she talked about it with her boyfriend Joel Schiffman in 2017. Joel was completely in tune with the idea, and a couple of months later, the couple took Haley-Joy home. Everyone in the studio where Hoda shared her adoption story was in tears. She shared that she always felt full and fulfilled with Haley and Joel and their lives together.

However, when she took the new baby in her hands, she felt her heart growing in dimensions that she did not think possible until then. The road to parenthood was a tough one for cohost Hoda. She was left unable to bear a child after her cancer treatment in 2007. She still dreamed of being a parent one day.

In 2013, Hoda met Joel Shiffman, a financier who became her husband. When the couple moved in together in 2017, they sparked the idea of adoption.

Hoda shares how tough the conversation was for her. She was afraid of starting the topic. She told her partner to think about the option of adoption for as long as he needed. Unlike her expectation, he said that there was no need to think about it. She was in tears from the relief and happiness of his readiness and support.

Hoda got Haley from an adoption agency in New York. She was born on Valentine's Day, 2017. The little sister is named Hope Catherine in honor of Hoda's friend Karen Swensen who also has a daughter named Catherine.

The joy was overwhelming for the whole family including Haley who is now a big sister. She even insists on feeding the baby. Although Hoda had a satisfying career, her journey to motherhood had ups and downs but she took it to the end.

What do you think of the miracle and blessing of adoption? Would you adopt in Hoda's case? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to pass this along to your friends and family!