Hoda Kotb broke down in tears Tuesday morning as she recalled being in the hospital with her daughter Hope last year amid the youngster’s “health scare” in the ICU.
Today with Hoda & Jenna opened with the news that Hoda’s new book, Hope Is A Rainbow, is now available for purchase and the 59-year-old TV star couldn’t resist explaining why she decided to dedicate her latest project to her four… year old child.
Speaking to her co-host Jenna Bush Hager, she said: ‘This morning I was writing a note. I put away letters that I give to my children around their birthday, I write a letter that describes what they are like at that particular age.
“And I was writing one for Hope. I was just talking about how incredible and resilient she is and what she’s overcome in the past year and how braver she is than she ever thought. When I was describing her, I said there’s a song we love, and it’s called I Am Light, it’s a beautiful song.’
Hoda Kotb burst into tears Tuesday morning as she remembered being in the hospital with her daughter Hope last year
Hoda wiped away tears while her co-host Jenna Bush Hager also became emotional
The 59-year-old TV star pictured with her daughter’s Hope, four-year-old and six-year-old Haley
Hoda continued, “And whenever we get to a place where we feel insecure, like when Hope was sick, and there was a lot of commotion going on around her in the hospital, I played that.
“I held that next to her ear and it played and it drowned out all the sounds. At that moment we were all safe. I looked at her and tried to silence her and make her feel safe and calm.
‘I remember thinking to myself, “this song, this song…” and now when Hope asks, “can we play our song?” Our song is I Am Light,” she added as a snippet of the song played and Hoda’s eyes filled with tears.
Mother-of-three Jenna was also visibly emotional, telling Hoda: “You know, when I listened to you say all that about your precious daughter, it was also about you.
‘You are stronger than you were a year ago, you are braver than you ever thought possible, you can do so much. And you are also softer, gentler, more open.
“Like I get chills just thinking about it, because I was listening to you and I was like, ‘She’s talking about herself too.’ And isn’t that strange how our children take us to this place where we are better than we are?’ the 42-year-old blonde added.
Trying to stay calm, Hoda replied, “Yes, and in the middle of it you think to yourself, ‘How could this ever turn into anything…’ I can’t believe you said that.”
‘It’s true, I listened to you and you were talking about yourself… and of course there is no one who is more filled with light. So the fact that you wrote a book about rainbows, which are the ultimate prism of light, is just perfect and we are so happy to celebrate you today.”
Mum-of-three Jenna also broke down in tears as she praised Hoda for being ‘softer’ and ‘gentler’ since Hope’s health problems
Today, Hoda and Jenna celebrated the release of Hoda’s new book Hope Is A Rainbow, inspired by her youngest daughter
Hoda was in tears again as a pre-recorded video message from Hope played on the screen
A short time later, the duo were again in tears as a pre-recorded video message from Hope played as the toddler sat on the couch at home with a copy of the new book in his hand.
“I’m so excited for the book to come out and I love it,” the four-year-old said, before adding, “I know I’m enough because my mom loves me.”
Clearly touched by her daughter’s sentiment, Hoda was seen wiping away tears as she joked, “That really sucked!” as she looked at the crew working behind the scenes.
The broadcaster first covered Hope’s hospital stay on March 6 last year, when she returned to Today after a two-week absence.
Hoda – who had not appeared on the Today show since February 17 – told her co-host Savannah Guthrie about her daughter’s illness: ‘My youngest Hope was in intensive care for a few days and then a little longer than the hospital. a week.
“I’m so grateful that she’s home, she’s home again. I waited for that day. And we are watching her closely. I’m just so happy.’
Hoda then broke down in tears as she paid tribute to all the doctors and medical staff who cared for her daughter, before thanking her family and friends for all their support during the difficult time.
‘And you know what I also realized? When your child is sick, how much gratitude can you have for the people who helped you,” she explained.
“I’m grateful for the doctors at Weill Cornell who were amazing, and for the nurses, and I’m grateful for my family, and I’m grateful for friends like you who were there every day. I want to thank you for that. I love you.’
Hoda shares her adopted daughters Haley, six, and Hope with her ex Joel Schiffman, to whom she was previously engaged.