Maria Shriver is praising her good friend Sheinelle Jones.
The writer, 69, took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message following the dying of the NBC correspondent’s husband Uche Ojeh.
“This morning, you likely heard the heartbreaking news for my friend @sheinelle_o and her family,” Shriver started. “The love of her life, her partner, the father of her kids, Uche Ojeh, lost his battle with brain cancer.”
Explaining how the 47-year-old stood by her husband’s facet till the tip, the journalist wrote, “Sheinelle was a courteous caregiver, there around the clock, caring, loving, showing up 24/7 for him and for their kids.”
“She got him the best medical care. She did everything right, and still, here we are. My heart breaks for her and everyone who has walked this path. May we hold her in our hearts and our prayers. May we give her and her family the strength and the privacy they need to begin a new journey without the love of their lives.”
Jones and Ojeh tied the knot in 2007 and share three youngsters: 14-year-old Kayin and 12-year-old twins Clara and Uche. Shriver went on to share that via all of it, she admires the mother of three.
“I admire how she stepped up,” continued Shriver. “Every time I spoke with her, she kept saying how she was trying and how critical it was for her to be there for every second for every moment. What a love. What a powerful thing to care for someone when they need it most. God bless you, my friend, and god bless all of you who know what she is going through, because you have walked the same journey.”
Together with the touching sentiments, the previous First Woman of California shared a photograph of herself with Jones, a second snap alongside Jones, Craig Melvin, and Al Roker and a candy household shot of Jones, Ojeh and their youngsters.
Savannah Guthrie introduced the heartbreaking information of Ojeh’s dying on the “Today” present on Friday.
“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,” the journalist, 53, mentioned via tears.
“There are no words for the pain we feel for Sheinelle and their three young children. Uche was an incredible person,” she continued. “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.”
Following information of the triathlete’s dying, a number of sources instructed The Put up Ojeh was in hospice earlier than he handed and put up a “brave fight.”
Followers speculated one thing was awry after Jones revealed in January that she can be stepping again from the third hour of “Today” for an prolonged time because of a household matter.
“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 wrote on Instagram on the time.
As Jones put it, “It’s not lost on me how lucky I am to have not only the support of my ‘Today’ show family, but to also have all of you.”
The reporter added, “Your kindness means so much to me. I’ll see you soon.”
Shortly after, an insider shared with Individuals that the scenario was “serious.”
“Sheinelle appreciates the support she’s received from fans and viewers in her absence,” the supply famous. “She’s especially grateful for her tight-knit ‘Today’ show family and co-hosts, for all their love during a sensitive time.”
Jones and Ojeh first met within the late ’90s throughout faculty at Northwestern College, with the anchor detailing the coy method she discovered who the hunk on campus was again within the day.
“I was a fake tour guide … I was just walking to class,” Jones mentioned throughout an interview with Northwestern’s campus journal in 2024. “[I was like, ‘Are you guys lost?’ And] I told him I would take him around because he was cute.”
The pair dated for eight years, earlier than Ojeh popped the query at their alma mater. He proposed throughout a rainstorm – which left Jones stunned to say the least.
“I thought I knew when it was coming, twice, and it didn’t happen,” she confessed throughout a 2018 “Today” present section.
Previous to the actual engagement, Ojeh as soon as stunned Jones with Tiffany’s jewellery – which she assumed was that ring. The second time, the on-air persona thought it was taking place whereas on a visit to Cancun, Mexico.
In September 2023, Jones gushed over her companion in honor of their anniversary.
“Happy Anniversary Uche – it’s amazing how life works sometimes … ” she penned. “I was born in Philly … moved away as a baby … visited my father every summer after my parents separated … but I never imagined I’d end up having some of the best years of my life and career there, getting married in Philly, and ultimately having 3 kids at the same hospital where I was born. We’ve created beautiful memories…. here’s to a lifetime more. 16 years!”