Anderson Cooper is a father to a healthy baby boy.
During his weekly coronavirus town hall on Thursday night, the CNN anchor announced he welcomed a son, Wyatt Morgan Cooper, weighing 7 lb. 2 oz. at birth, via surrogate on Monday.
"It has been a difficult time in all of our lives, and there are certainly many hard days ahead," Cooper shared before revealing he is now a dad. "It is, I think, especially important in these times of trouble to try to hold on to moments of joy and moments of happiness. Even as we mourn the loss of loved ones, we are also blessed with new life and new love."
"On Monday, I became a father," he continued. "I've never actually said that before, out loud, and it still kind of astonishes me. I am a dad. I have a son. And I want you to meet him."
On Instagram he revealed the meaning behind his son's name.
"He is named after my father, who died when I was ten. I hope I can be as good a dad as he was," Cooper wrote. "My son's middle name is Morgan. It's a family name on my mom's side. I know my mom and dad liked the name Morgan because I recently found a list they made 52 years ago when they were trying to think of names for me."
The news anchor also explained what welcoming a son means to him as a gay man.
"As a gay kid, I never thought it would be possible to have a child, and I’m grateful for all those who have paved the way, and for the doctors and nurses and everyone involved in my son's birth," he wrote.
He also expressed his appreciation for the surrogate, who carried his child, whose identity he did not reveal.
"Most of all, I am grateful to a remarkable surrogate who carried Wyatt, and watched over him lovingly, and tenderly, and gave birth to him," he wrote.
"It is an extraordinary blessing - what she, and all surrogates give to families who cant have children," he continued. "My surrogate has a beautiful family of her own, a wonderfully supportive husband, and kids, and I am incredibly thankful for all the support they have given Wyatt and me. My family is blessed to have this family in our lives."
Cooper, who lost his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt, in June 2019 and his brother, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, in 1988, reflected on their passing in his post as well.
"I do wish my mom and dad and my brother, Carter, were alive to meet Wyatt, but I like to believe they can see him," Cooper wrote. "I imagine them all together, arms around each other, smiling and laughing, happy to know that their love is alive in me and in Wyatt, and that our family continues."
