‘Today’ Hoda Kotb’s Sick Child Behind Exit?
Is Hoda Kotb’s sick child one of the driving factors behind her shocking Today Show exit? She alleged that when she turned sixty, it all came together and she knew it was time for a change. Yet, is there more to the story than she is willing to share? Keep reading for all of the details.
Hoda Kotb’s Sick Child Behind Today Exit?
When Hoda Kotb announced she was exiting the Today Show after seventeen years, everyone was shocked. It was not just the fans but also her colleagues. They seemingly did not expect the announcement and even Hoda struggled to say the words she was leaving. She shared it was something she had thought about for a while but was not ready until she turned sixty in August 2024. That was when it all clicked and Hoda realized she was ready to move on, no matter how hard it would be.
Hoda cited her daughters as a driving factor. They had just moved from the city to the suburbs and it was an amazing experience. Hoda loved walking her two girls to school, coffee cup in hand. More so, because she became a mom later, she wanted to soak up all the time with them. It was also suggested Hoda was asked to take a pay cut to stick around. Therefore, exploring other options made more sense. Now, something else has been brought up. According to Closer, an insider cited her daughter, Hope’s 2023 illness as another reason Hoda is exiting:
“She’s been seriously thinking about it for a while, but it really kicked in when her youngest, Hope, got sick last year. She really thought long and hard about her priorities after that. She realized she wanted to be home more.”
Hope had been in the ICU for several days which rocked Hoda Kotb’s world. She missed time at Today and admitted she was watching over her little one.
View this post on Instagram
Since Hoda shared she was leaving, her colleagues and celebrities have paid tribute to her. The tears have not stopped flowing as no one knows how they will do it without her.
The Trauma Of ICU
When Hope was in the ICU, Hoda Kotb recalled the nightmare she experienced while waiting for her daughter to get better:
“My youngest, Hope, was in the ICU for a few days and in the hospital for a little more than a week. I’m so grateful she’s home. She is back home. I was waiting for that day to come. And we are watching her closely. I’m just so happy.”
It was a traumatizing experience, especially when Hoda simply wanted to bathe Hope:
“I remember I was there, and I asked for a bath for [Hope]. I wanted to give her a bath, and they could only sponge her, and I said, ‘Please, I’m begging you.’ ‘I just want a bath here for my child,’ and I remember we got this little plastic thing, and we put it in the shower and put Hope in it. And I remembered like that tiny thing, but it was everything at that time.”
So, spending time with her children has even more meaning, not just because of when she had them but because of Hope being sick. Hoda may want to relish every moment she can and that is completely understandable.
Do you think this decision had to do with the emotions of turning sixty and Hope’s ICU stay? Let us know in the comments below.
- Kim Kardashian Talks The Struggle Raising Kids Alone - November 11, 2024
- Blake Shelton & ‘Yellowstone’ Creator Team Up For New Reality Series - November 11, 2024
- ‘RHOBH’ Teddi Mellencamp Turns To Kyle Richards Amid Divorce - November 11, 2024