Despite battling a condition that often leaves her feeling tired and uncomfortable, little Hope, along with her big sister Haley, lovingly created intricate and adorable signs to celebrate their mom

The former ‘Today’ host shares her daughters with ex Joel Schiffman

Hoda Kotb’s daughters had a special way to celebrate their mom on her big day.

On Wednesday, May 28, the former Today show host and mom of two shared a post on her Instagram of a few handwritten signs her daughters Hope, 6, and Haley, 8, left for her around the house.

“Happy Launch Day Mom!” one big sign written in rainbow letters, referring to Kotb’s new project Joy 101.

In this week’s cover story, Kotb revealed that her daughter Hope is living with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that prevents the pancreas from making insulin, requiring vigilant blood sugar monitoring and frequent insulin injections.

“It’s kind of constant care for Hope. We’re monitoring her 24/7,” said Kotb, who calls her daughter a “trouper” for the way she’s dealing with the unpleasant realities of treatment.

“She was getting shots — four or five a day — every day for a year. Now she is getting them less frequently because we have some other means to get her what she needs, but there’s a lot to it,” she added. “Some kids can have sweets, and she can’t. If she’s up in the night, we have to take care of her at night.”

After a pause, Kotb said, “She is a happy, healthy, rambunctious, amazing kid, and we have to watch her. Diabetes is a part of her but not all of her. I hope it shapes her but never defines her.”

She also included a photo of a sign hung on a different door, which has a heart and the word “Mom” on it. “Lucky me ❤️,” Kotb wrote in her caption.

That proud mom went on to say that being able to be totally available for her daughter became a nonnegotiable and something that was impossible as a Today co-host that had hard deadlines and a daily wake-up at 3:15 a.m.

“I really wanted to and needed to be here to watch over her. So whenever she needs anything, and it can happen at night, multiple times, I’m up — I’m up up up,” she said. “But I would never, ever want Hope to one day grow up and say, ‘Oh, my mom left her job because [of me].’ It wasn’t that alone. But if you look at it cumulatively, it was a part of that decision.”

To honor the sweet gesture from her daughters, Kotb crafted a special sign of her own and placed it on their bedroom door. Written in bold, colorful letters, it read: “Best Daughters Ever — Love, Mom,” surrounded by hand-drawn hearts and stars. It was her way of not only thanking them, but also showing them just how much their love carried her through one of the biggest moments of her life. The sign mirrored the heartfelt simplicity of the ones Haley and Hope had made, turning their home into a gallery of love, support, and unbreakable family bonds.