Current:Home > MarketsMaria Menounos and Husband Keven Undergaro Welcome First Baby via Surrogate -VisionFunds
Maria Menounos and Husband Keven Undergaro Welcome First Baby via Surrogate
View
Date:2025-04-14 16:11:57
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! (13593)
Related
- Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
- Terrence Shannon Jr. powers Illinois to Elite Eight amid controversy
- Inmate escapes Hawaii jail, then dies after being struck by hit-and-run driver
- New Jersey father charged after 9-year-old son’s body found in burning car
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Mixed Nuts
- Jenna Dewan Shares Update on Wedding Plans With Fiancé Steve Kazee
- Truck driver charged with criminally negligent homicide in fatal Texas bus crash
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- What stores are open on Easter Sunday 2024? See Walmart, Target, Costco hours
Ranking
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Why King Charles III Won't Be Seated With Royal Family at Easter Service
- Tennessee lawmakers split on how and why to give businesses major tax help under fear of lawsuit
- At least 5 deaths linked to recalled supplement pill containing red mold
- Have Dry, Sensitive Skin? You Need To Add These Gentle Skincare Products to Your Routine
- Harvard says it has removed human skin from the binding of a 19th century book
- Tiki torches sold at BJ's recalled after reports of burn injuries
- A big airline is relaxing its pet policy to let owners bring the companion and a rolling carry-on
Recommendation
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
Alabama vs. Clemson in basketball? Football schools face off with Final Four on the line
Truck driver charged with criminally negligent homicide in fatal Texas bus crash
Harvard says it has removed human skin from the binding of a 19th century book
Bodycam footage shows high
Tennessee lawmakers split on how and why to give businesses major tax help under fear of lawsuit
How King Charles III Has Kept Calm and Carried on Since His Cancer Diagnosis
Psst! Anthropologie Just Added an Extra 50% off Their Sale Section and We Can’t Stop Shopping Everything