Current:Home > ScamsMaria Menounos and Husband Keven Undergaro Welcome First Baby via Surrogate -Core Financial Strategies
Maria Menounos and Husband Keven Undergaro Welcome First Baby via Surrogate
View
Date:2025-04-17 16:31:09
Maria Menounos and her new family of three are better together.
The TV host and husband Keven Undergaro shared that they welcomed their first child together, a baby girl named Athena Alexandra, via surrogate on June 23.
"It was the most special moment of my life," Maria told Us Weekly July 19. "The doctor literally grabbed her and hiked her onto me. I sat with her on my chest, and Keven and I kept looking at each other like, 'Oh, my God.' It was just pure joy."
Their sweet news comes five months after the couple—who tied the knot in 2017—announced they were expecting their first child together via surrogate.
"We are so grateful to everyone who helped make this beautiful blessing happen," the Better Together author told E! News in a Feb. 7 statement. "I am so excited to be a mom and Keven is so excited to be a dad! And my dad is over the moon to be a papou."
At the time, Maria also gave a nod to her late mom, Litsa Menounos, who passed away in May 2021 after a battle with brain cancer.
"I know my mom had a cup of greek coffee with god and said it's time," she captioned an Instagram post, in part, alongside a clip of her sharing her baby news. "So grateful for the blessing in our lives. Cant believe I'm sharing this news without her in the physical , but I know she made it happen on the other side and is going to be with me every step of the way. Thank you all for your love! We are just so grateful!"
Back in April the couple shared the sex of their baby, with Maria noting on her Heal Squad x Maria Menounos podcast, "We're very excited to announce we have a baby girl coming."
She also revealed that she and Keven, 55, have their baby's name chosen—but added that they're keeping it under wraps for now.
"We've been thinking about names for years, because as you may or may not know, this has been almost a 10-year journey for us," Maria explained. "We've thought about names forever, and I think we've come up with the perfect name for this baby."
However, over the past almost-decade it hasn't been an easy journey, as Maria has been vocal about various health scares along the way. This includes a private battle with Stage 2 pancreatic cancer earlier this year, which required undergoing surgery to remove a 3.9-inch tumor along with part of her pancreas, her spleen, a large fibroid and 17 lymph nodes.
"This whole year has been trauma, stress, crisis," she told People May 3. "I had that moment where I thought I was a goner—but I'm okay because I caught this early enough."
The former E! News correspondent, who previously had a benign brain tumor removed in 2017, pointed out the painful timing of her diagnosis.
"I'm like 'How in the freaking world can I have a brain tumor and pancreatic cancer?'" Maria said. "All I could think was that I have a baby coming."
But throughout it all, she's had her husband and dad Constantinos to lean on.
"I'm so grateful and so lucky," Maria expressed. "God granted me a miracle. I'm going to appreciate having her in my life so much more than I would have before this journey."
For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News AppveryGood! (65729)
Related
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Tropical Storm Pilar heads toward El Salvador and is expected to bring heavy rain to Central America
- Toyota, Honda, and BMW among 937,400 vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here
- EU Commissioner urges Montenegro to push ahead with EU integration after new government confirmed
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- Luxury California home — complete with meth lab and contamination — selling for $1.55 million
- Kansas can’t enforce new law on abortion pills or make patients wait 24 hours, judge rules
- How to right-click, easily add emojis and more with these Mac keyboard shortcuts
- 'Survivor' 47 finale, part one recap: 2 players were sent home. Who's left in the game?
- Adam Johnson's Partner Ryan Wolfe Pens Heartbreaking Message to Ice Hockey Star After His Tragic Death
Ranking
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Lionel Messi, with 8th win, becomes first MLS player to earn soccer's Ballon d'Or award
- Lions vs. Raiders Monday Night Football highlights: Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs has breakout game
- Ariana Madix Reveals Unexpected Dancing With the Stars Body Transformation
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- On her 18th birthday, Spain’s Princess Leonor takes another step towards eventually becoming queen
- Army said Maine shooter should not have gun, requested welfare check
- Vonage customers to get nearly $100 million in refunds over junk fees
Recommendation
'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
Advocates raise privacy, safety concerns as NYPD and other departments put robots on patrol
Matthew Perry mourned by ‘Friends’ cast mates: ‘We are all so utterly devastated’
Elite Kenyan police unit goes on trial in the killing of a prominent Pakistani journalist last year
What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
Vonage customers to get nearly $100 million in refunds over junk fees
Stock market rebounds after S&P 500 slides into a correction. What's next for your 401(k)?
Matthew Perry's family releases statement thanking fans following star's death