Dana Daly

Many entertainment icons have shared stories of the blended families they've proudly formed, uniting soulmates from across borders at the state and international levels. Hoda Kotb is the proud mother of two daughters, Haley and Hope, both adopted, and she credits Sandra Bullock for making it so. Kotb and Bullock, both 59, came upon adoption in different ways but found themselves in very similar circumstances raising their children. Bullock is a mother of two adoptees, the first of whom she adopted while splitting from her ex, Jesse James. Her story inspired Kotb and gave the two a way to bond and encourage one another. Hoda Kotb was assured by Sandra Bullock to pursue adoption https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/1002282505662337024 Kotb announced on February 21, 2017, during an episode of Today, that she had adopted Haley Joy. In 2019, a similar announcement followed celebrating her adoption of Hope Catherine. Parenthood had been on Kotb's radar for some time, but in 2007, she'd been diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. For a time, she did not think she would ever have children - until she pursued adoption. Bullock underwent an emotional adoption journey / Peter West/ACE Pictures ACE Pictures, Inc. RELATED: Meet Sandra Bullock’s Two Adopted Children, Louis and Laila She was already a mother of one by the time Bullock opened up about her powerful adoption journey. But motherhood at her age felt daunting to Kotb. However, she was not alone and had helpful firsthand accounts to listen to. "Hundreds of thousands of children that are ready to be your child," said Bullock during a 2018 interview for Today. "You're a forever parent the minute you accept the love of that child. And it's amazing to me how we can take away people's happiness by telling them that, 'This is the box you have to stay in.' There is no box." They show what a family really looks like Sandra Bullock gave Hoda Kotb strength to pursue adoption / YouTube screenshot Kotb has named Bullock as a huge source of assurance and courage in her adoption journey - even before their 2018 interview. "On the way there, this sounds so weird, but Sandra Bullock was really helping with some guidance about like, 'Don't be scared,'" shared Kotb, referring to when she flew to meet Haley for the first time. "She was one of the people who I looked to, to realize that someone like me of the same age could do these things." Sandra Bullock gave Hoda Kotb strength to pursue adoption / Instagram "She described the most beautiful part of her life began when her kids entered it," she continued. "She sent me some texts and I was reading them, and I was playing music by Ingrid Michaelson." Bullock had been in the process of adopting her months-old son Louis in 2010 when Jesse James was exposed for cheating on her. She continued the adoption process as a single mother and then adopted daughter Laila - then three years old - in 2015. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Everything movies TV and stars (@movies_movies_and_more) RELATED: Hoda Kotb And Ex Joel Schiffman Will Happily Co-Parent During The Holidays