Maria Menounos: A Heartwarming Journey of Motherhood Filled with Gratitude and Miracles

Maria Menounos with daughter Athena. Courtesy of Maria Menounos/Instagram

Maria Menounos excitedly shared an update on her experience as a first-time parent after the arrival of her daughter Athena. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, August 9, she expressed her joy, offering fans a fresh look at her precious baby girl. In her post, she shared, "Hello, friends! Motherhood is truly wonderful. Athena is an absolute angel. As I write this, she's peacefully slumbering on my lap, basking in the morning light. I'm completely smitten; it's absolutely surreal."

In the adorable photo, Menounos, aged 45, sported a T-shirt featuring the word "Mother" in a font inspired by Barbie. She lovingly held Athena, her child with husband Keven Undergaro, in her embrace.

Menounos proceeded to express gratitude towards her fans for their unwavering support throughout her journey to motherhood. Reflecting on the past 6 years, she shared, "It's been quite a whirlwind. First, my mother battled a brain tumor, followed by myself undergoing two brain surgeries. Then, both of my parents contracted COVID-19 and required hospitalization. After that, I experienced the heartbreaking loss of my mother, followed by a diagnosis of type one diabetes and a neuroendocrine tumor on my pancreas... with some other unbelievable occurrences in between too."

Acknowledging all that she has been through to reach her current position is encouraged by Undergaro, 55. She expressed gratitude for being alive and thriving, and shared her hope that all those experiences are in the past and that the future holds only great days ahead. In addition, she expressed joy in being present to enjoy the company of her beautiful little girl.

Maria Menounos, accompanied by her daughter Athena, shared a delightful photo on Instagram. In February, Menounos revealed the joyous news that she and her husband Undergaro, who exchanged vows in 2017, were expecting a baby. Following a decade of fertility struggles, the couple chose to embrace the assistance of a surrogate in order to fulfill their dream of expanding their family.

We announced Athena's birth last month, and Menounos revealed that she had almost given up on the idea of becoming a parent until she found the perfect surrogate. Menounos expressed her immense love for the surrogate and her family, acknowledging that they had bestowed upon them the most incredible gift. They maintain frequent communication and have come to consider them as part of their own family.

The surrogate, however, had already given birth to two children prior to connecting with Menounos and Undergaro. She expressed her excitement in being able to help them achieve their dream and form an immediate bond with the couple.

The birth of their daughter Athena was the most cherished moment in Menounos' life, a sentiment that her husband shared, describing it as an incredibly joyful experience akin to Christmas morning magnified a million times.