Ten Years Later (31 page)

To Megan Kopf, a master juggler, who somehow planned her wedding at the same time
she was “getting me to the church on time” for the whirlwind of publicity. You deserve
two honeymoons.

To my agent, Mel Berger, who is always there when I need him and who I’m always glad
to see, even when I don’t need a thing.

To the book’s six superstars who make my challenges look like blessings: I am in awe
of your strength and courage. Each of you let me drag you back to the dark days, over
and over again, as I checked off my endless list of questions. You went there repeatedly
with grace and patience and for that I am grateful. Amy, Lindsay, Patrick, Diane,
Ron, and Roxanne: You are gems. What an honor to mine your stories.

And to Time. Without you, we’d all be stuck wondering instead of arriving at the glorious
other side of
what if
.

I’ve saved the best for last. To Jane Lorenzini, who not only has a gift, she
is
one. Janie can string together four words and instantly move you. But beyond being
an exceptional writer, she is an even better friend. I am lucky.

Hoda Kotb was named coanchor of the fourth hour of
Today
in August 2007. She has also been a
Dateline NBC
correspondent since April 1998 and is the
New York Times
bestselling author of
Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee.
In her years at NBC, Hoda has covered a wide variety of domestic and international
stories and has received numerous awards, including the 2008 Alfred I. duPont–Columbia
University Award and the prestigious Peabody in 2006. The three-time Emmy winner also
won the 2003 Gracie Award and the 2002 Edward R. Murrow Award. She resides in New
York City.

Jane Lorenzini is a freelance writer and coauthor of
The New York Times
bestseller,
Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee.
A professional writer for nearly three decades, Jane enjoyed a fifteen-year career
as a television news anchor and reporter. She also designs and manufactures her own
line of stationery products called
plain jane
. She lives in Tennessee.

Share your own inspiring
Ten Years Later
story at
www.TenYearsLaterBook.com
or by emailing
[email protected]
.

ALSO BY HODA KOTB

Hoda: How I Survived War Zones, Bad Hair, Cancer, and Kathie Lee

Simon & Schuster

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New York, NY 10020
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Copyright © 2013 by Hoda Kotb

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or
portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address
Simon & Schuster Subsidiary Rights Department,
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition January 2013

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Designed by Akasha Archer

Jacket design by Jackie Seow

Jacket photograph by Julie Brothers

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kotb, Hoda.

Ten years later : six people who faced adversity and transformed their lives / Hoda
Kotb; with Jane Lorenzini. — First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.

p. cm.

1. Life change events—Psychological aspects. 2. Adjustment (Psychology) 3. Biography.
I. Lorenzini, Jane, author. II. Title.

BF637.L53K68 2013

155.2’40922—dc23

2012042253

ISBN 978-1-4516-5603-9

ISBN 978-1-4516-5605-3 (ebook)