Hoda Kotb returned to her Today show post after taking a few weeks off to care for her younger daughter.
On Monday’s show, Kotb took her seat next to co-anchor Savannah Guthrie to explain her absence.
“My youngest, Hope, was in the ICU for a few days, and in the hospital for a little more than a week,” she said at the top of the hour of her 3-year-old. “I am so grateful she’s home. She’s back home. I was waiting for that day to come. And we are watching her closely.”
Over the last few weeks, Kotb told her friend and co-host she felt thankful for the support. “When your child is ill, the amount of gratitude you have for people who helped you out,” she said, naming the doctors at Weill Cornell hospital in NYC, and her family and friends like Guthrie, whom she said was there for her every day.
Related Stories
In addition to Hope, Kotb is mom to daughter Haley Joy, 6.
Kotb, who also hosts Today‘s fourth hour alongside Jenna Bush Hager, had been off the air since Feb. 17. Last week, co-host Craig Melvin told the Today audience that Kotb had been absent from the show due to a “family health matter.”
Monday also marked Guthrie’s return, as she had been absent since Feb. 28 after testing positive for COVID.
Later, on Today with Hoda and Jenna, Kotb expressed the gratitude she has for the doctors who helped Hope, and also took to Instagram to thank the fans.
“The nurses who stood by her all the way. The nurses who checked on her constantly, the doctors who came in, the people who took care of us. I felt like we were held,” she said. “I feel blessed and grateful, really, really, really grateful. And also, anyone who’s ever gone through an illness with a child, boy I thought I understood you. But I didn’t. Until you’re sitting in that position. So, for every single person going through some stuff, I get it.”
March 7, 9:30 a.m. Updated to include Kotb’s Instagram message.
