Maria Menounos’ parents are currently being hospitalized with COVID-19 after testing positive for the virus in late November.
The television personality, 42, revealed the devastating news on the most recent episode of her Better Together podcast, which premiered Monday.
‘I’m just going to share that we’re in process right now, and we still need prayers,’ said an emotional Menounos, who rehashed the entire ordeal for her listeners.
Hospitalized: Maria Menounos’ parents are currently being hospitalized with COVID-19 after testing positive for the virus in late November; Maria pictured with mother Litsa and father Constantinos
Maria explained that she originally flew out to Los Angeles with husband Keven Undergaro, 53, in late November to care for her mother Litsa, who developed a brain tumor after already battling stage four brain cancer.
‘We got some not some not so great news on Monday, November 23, that my mom’s brain tumor was growing,’ shared the reporter.
The following day, Maria was informed that her mother’s caretaker had called out of her shift, so Maria and Keven decided to head out to LA and take care of Litsa, themselves.
‘We land, and that’s when this all started. I’m just going to share that we’re in process right now, and we still need prayers. Long story short is that within a few hours, both of my parents were diagnosed with COVID.’
Devastating: The television personality, 42, revealed the devastating news on the most recent episode of her Better Together podcast, which premiered Monday
Prayers needed: ‘I’m just going to share that we’re in process right now, and we still need prayers,’ said an emotional Menounos, who rehashed the entire ordeal for her listeners
Maria said that her mom tested positive with the virus first and then ‘a few hours later’ her father Constantinos’ positive test results were revealed.
‘First it was my mom; they had rushed her to the hospital right when I landed, and then a few hours later my dad tested positive. It was absolutely surreal,’ recalled a tearful Menounos.
As for her parents’ current state, Maria informed her audience that ‘at this moment, both of them are in separate hospitals here in Los Angeles’ and that she has been busy fielding phone calls from their doctors.
Helping hand: Maria explained that she originally flew out to Los Angeles with husband Keven Undergaro, 53, in late November to care for her mother Litsa, who developed a brain tumor after already battling stage four brain cancer; Keven and Maria pictured in March
‘It’s been pretty insane,’ admitted the former E! News host, who has been doing her best to keep positive, despite her parents’ ailments.
‘I’ve kept focusing on what my desired outcome, and not what my fear was, and that helped me a lot. I think as it has extended, and I’ve become more and more tired, fear creeps back in.
‘It has been an incredible challenge. You work so hard to keep your parents healthy and alive, and to see something like this happen. I mean it was bad enough on Monday to hear that about my mom’s tumor. And then the pile of that, um, is a lot.’
The first: Maria said that her mom tested positive with the virus first and then ‘a few hours later’ her father Constantinos’ positive test results were revealed; Litsa and Maria pictured in 2018
Both in hospital: As for her parents’ current state, Maria informed her audience that ‘at this moment, both of them are in separate hospitals here in Los Angeles’ and that she has been busy fielding phone calls from their doctors; Maria, Litsa and Constantinos pictured in 2017
Maria took a moment to express her gratitude towards all of the ‘incredible doctors, incredible nurses, incredible friends, and incredible family, that have lifted up and helped us in this time.’
She noted that COVID-19 has been a huge undertaking for nurses, especially, due to the the virus’ strict protocols.
‘I can’t say enough about these nurses who are now having to manage FaceTime sessions. That’s not part of their job.’
Challenging time: ‘It has been an incredible challenge. You work so hard to keep your parents healthy and alive, and to see something like this happen. I mean it was bad enough on Monday to hear that about my mom’s tumor. And then the pile of that, um, is a lot,’ said Maria
Near her podcast episode’s end, Maria told her viewers and listeners that she would be willing to open up about how she has handled being a socially-distanced caretaker for her parents.
‘There’s a helpless feeling there, but you don’t have to be helpless. You can still be engaged as an active participant and as an advocate, and as their caretaker,’ she said.
‘I will show you exactly how to do that, and how I’ve done it, and some tips and tricks that have been incredibly helpful.’
How she does it: Near her podcast episode’s end, Maria told her viewers and listeners that she would be willing to open up about how she has handled being a socially-distanced caretaker for her parents
You can still be there: ‘There’s a helpless feeling there, but you don’t have to be helpless. You can still be engaged as an active participant and as an advocate, and as their caretaker,’ she said