TODAY host Sheinelle Jones’ husband Uche Ojeh has died at 45 after a battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer, the stars of the show announced on Friday.
Sheinelle, 47, quietly stepped away from the NBC morning show in December to deal with a “family health matter.”
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“With profound sadness, we share this morning that Uche Ojeh, the husband of our friend and Today co-host Sheinelle Jones, has passed away after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma,” Savannah Guthrie announced through tears on Today.
“There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children.
“Uche was an incredible person. We all loved him.
“And so we want to take a moment to tell you more about the remarkable man who was Sheinelle’s perfect partner in life.”
Read More Sheinelle Jones
The stars then shared a heartfelt photo montage of the couple and recapped Sheinelle and Uche’s incredible love story.
“Two years ago, when Sheinelle completed her first marathon, Uche was there at the finish line, his pride evident with his beaming smile,” Savannah said.
“They celebrated each other’s victories, big and small.
“Uche was the kind of person who brought light, warmth and joy in every room.
“Today, with heavy hearts, we celebrate his life, devoted husband, loving father, and a man whose generosity of spirit touched all who knew him.”
Savannah and co-hosts Jenna Bush Hager, Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Carson Daly and Dylan Dreyer all wiped away tears after the emotional tribute.
“We just want to say, Sheinelle, Kayin, Clara and Uche and the Ojeh family, we are with you, we love you, you are our family, and we are just sending all of our love to you right now,” Savannah concluded, speaking to Sheinelle and her late husband’s three kids.
Sheinelle and Uche share son Kayin, 15, and twins Clara and Uche, 12.
After the segment aired, Sheinelle reposted the video and broke her silence on the tragedy.
“Thank you, for all of your love and support,” she told her Today colleagues.
What is glioblastoma?
Glioblastomas are grade 4 brain tumors and are sometimes called glioblastoma multiforme, according to UK’s National Health Service.
It is a type of glioma, one of the most common types of primary brain tumors – making up around a third.
The cancer begins in the brain and almost never spreads to other parts of the body. However, it’s complexity makes it difficult to treat.
It is also resistant to treatment, as the cells within the tumor are not all of the same type.
There are no known causes of glioblastoma, as is the case with most brain tumors, therefore, there is no clear way to prevent the disease.
The first line of treatment is surgery to try and cut the tumor out. However, because glioblastomas “diffuse,” meaning they invade healthy cells around them, it’s very difficult to remove the tumor without harming healthy parts of the brain.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be helpful to stop the tumor cells growing and spreading. But despite the high intensity of the treatment, the cancer usually recurs.
SHEINELLE STEPS BACK
Sheinelle announced her decision to step away from work in January, after fans became worried about her absence.
“I sincerely appreciate all of you who have reached out while I’ve been absent from the show. I want to share with you that I’m taking time to deal with a family health matter,” she said at the time.
“It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have not on the support of my Today show family, but to also have all of you. Your kindness means so much to me. I’ll see you soon.”
She did not mention her husband or his cancer battle.
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She also delayed the release of her book Through Mom’s Eyes: Simple Wisdom From Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans from April to October of this year.
The couple met while attending Northwestern University in Chicago, and married in 2007.
“I was a fake tour guide,” she said in 2024. “I was just walking to class. I was like, ‘Are you guys lost?’ And I told him I would take him around because he was cute.”
The couple remained rock solid through the years, and she gushed over their marriage on his 43rd birthday in February 2023.
“To think it all started right here at Northwestern 25 years ago. Then marriage a decade later,” she wrote on Instagram. “Then baby #1, then #2 & #3, moving to NYC, and 10,000 games, music and dance lessons later…We’re just getting started.”
The U.S. Sun reported in February that Sheinelle plans to return to Today after her difficult struggle, and may replace Hoda Kotb as Jenna Bush Hager’s co-host during the show’s fourth hour.
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Content shared from www.the-sun.com.