Hoda Kotb, 59, reveals emotional moment when adoption agency confirmed arrival of second daughter, Hope, after breast cancer treatment left her unable to conceive

Today, host Hoda Kotb recalls the pure elation she felt after receiving a call from the adoption agency confirming the arrival of her second daughter, Hope, and revealing it was one of the best calls of her life.

The 59-year-old hostess, who adopted her first daughter Haley, six, in February 2017 before welcoming Hope, four, two years later, spoke of the excitement she felt after being told her little girl was ‘here’.

On Monday’s episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, Hoda revealed that she shared the poignant anecdote in a speech she gave to her friends and teachers at a school reunion this weekend.

She said, “I told a story about how I was a late bloomer in high school and a late bloomer in life, and how everything great happened to me after I turned 50 in my life, and I had my daughters after I turned 50.

“I said, ‘You know, one of the best calls I ever got in my life was when the phone rang and it was the adoption agency.’

‘I didn’t know what childbirth felt like. I’ve never given birth to a child, but when you get a phone call and you listen.’

Hoda continued, “I said ‘hello’ and the woman on the other end of the line, the adoption agency, said ‘she’s here.’ And I thought, ‘She’s here!'”

The broadcaster revealed that at that moment during her heartfelt speech, her daughter Hope ran to the stage to join her.

“Hope came buzzing onto the stage, afraid of nothing (and) wearing my old high school cheerleading uniform,” she beamed.

For years, Hoda thought she wouldn’t be able to become a mother after treatment for breast cancer at age 42 left her unable to conceive.

At age 52, she and her ex-partner, Joel Schiffman, adopted Haley before Hope joined their family two years later.

Despite splitting in 2022, the ex-couple continues to co-parent their daughters.

The Today show host was joined on stage by Hope at a high school reunion talk this weekend

Hoda is the mother of two girls; Hope, four, and Haley, six, both of whom she adopted

The broadcaster shares both of her daughters with her ex-partner Joel Schiffman

“I don’t regret a day, a minute, a second of our time together because it brought me here,” she said of their divorce in an interview with People last year.

‘I have two wonderful children that I share with him. And it’s because of Joel that I have Haley and Hope, without a doubt.

‘I think maybe I was too scared to do it alone. I hate to admit that, but it’s true.’

Hoda has also expressed her desire to adopt a third child, although her plans to expand her family were delayed during the COVID pandemic.

“It’s definitely in the universe for me,” she continued to People. “I feel like everything is meant to be. But I know a few things. I have love and time, and we have an open space.”

Hoda has also expressed her desire to adopt a third child, to give her girls another sibling

Hope left, was hospitalized in February and spent time in intensive care

Earlier this year, Hope was hospitalized for an unknown illness and was admitted to the intensive care unit for treatment.

Hoda shared an update on the Today show after taking some time off to deal with a “family health matter.”

‘Mine The youngest, Hope, was in intensive care for a few days and in the hospital for just over a week,” she said when she returned to the program in March.

‘I’m so grateful she’s home. She’s back home. I waited for that day. And we are watching her closely. I’m just so happy.’

In an emotional moment, she turned to her co-host Savannah Guthrie and said she realized “when your child is sick” how much “gratitude you can have for people who helped you.”

Hoda added, “I am grateful for the doctors at Weill Cornell who were wonderful, and for the nurses.

“And I’m grateful for my family, and I’m grateful for friends like you who were there every day. So I want to thank you for that. I love you.’