BROADCASTER Kate Garraway’s husband has been fighting to overcome various health problems ever since he was diagnosed with Covid-19 in early 2020.
The author and former psychotherapist is one of the UK’s longest-suffering patients of Covid, and brave Kate has been keeping the public updated on her husband’s condition all the way.
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What is the latest on Kate Garraway’s husband Derek Draper?
Derek Draper was left in a critical condition after he was diagnosed with Covid in early 2020 and spent 13 months in hospital.
He has since been battling a variety of health problems, after the virus caused brain inflammation, kidney failure, and damage to his liver and pancreas.
After returning home from hospital in 2021, Derek has had to return to hospital several times but has made great strides in his fight to regain in his health.
In June 2023 he watched on as his Good Morning Britain star wife was awarded an MBE.
He attended the ceremony at Windsor Castle on June 28, where Kate was given the award by Prince William for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity.
Derek’s outing came a few weeks after Kate, who shares daughter Darcey and son Billy with Derek, revealed that her husband is able to communicate by whispering.
Appearing on Loose Women shortly after Derek had returned from a stay in hospital, Kate said: “It is very much a whisper and I don’t think we are necessarily going to have a conversation but you get fantastic moments where he will suddenly…
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“This is so silly but Billy had a new basketball and he was bouncing it and suddenly Derek asked ‘Is that a new ball?’.
“We all just went ‘Ah’… and Billy went ‘Yes, yes it is, it is’ and he [Derek] said ‘It’s nice’. Seeing him able is unbelievable, it is something you take for granted.
“But to have him be able to interact in that way and then Billy was in tears and they were hugging. It’s things like that, that really lift you up and then the next day he was completely still.”
Kate has documented Derek’s recovery in two documentaries, titled Caring For Derek and Finding Derek.
In the docs, viewers saw the toll put on the couple by Derek’s crippling illness.
In 2023 Kate confirmed she is working on an untitled third documentary and is also releasing a second book, The Strength of Love, in late 2023.
The presenter has previously told how the father to her children is “trapped” in his body.
He has travelled twice to Mexico to seek specialist help.
She told The Sun that the gruelling trip required “extraordinary effort” and but she hopes he will return for another round of treatment.
Timeline of Derek Draper’s coronavirus battle
2020
2021
- January 7, 2021: Kate reveals her kids saw sick husband Derek for the first time since March 2020 over Christmas, but lockdown means she’s banned from seeing him again.
- February 11, 2021: Kate returns to GMB and reveals her heartache after being unable to see Derek since Christmas and says there’s “no end in sight”.
- February 26, 2021: Dr Hilary reveals he has been supporting Kate.
- March 20, 2021: Kate said her seriously-ill husband Derek’s brain is “no longer his friend”.
- March 23. 2021: Kate’s Finding Derek documentary airs and reveals the heartbreaking moment her husband woke up from his coma.
- April 8, 2021: Derek set to return home where he will continue to receive round-the-clock care.
- April 9, 2021: Derek is finally back in his family home in North London after over a year in hospital.
- September 9, 2021: Kate was left in tears as she accepted an NTA gong for her documentary about Derek.
- October 9, 2021: Kate claimed Derek is still sleeping 20 hours a day and is unable to communicate as he did before contracting Covid.
- October 21, 2021: Kate revealed Prince Charles is the royal who extended a helping hand amid Derek’s Covid battle during the Prince’s Trust Awards at St James’ Palace in London.
2022
2023
- June 8, 2023: Kate appears on Loose Women and says Derek can communicate by whispering.
- June 28, 2023: Derek watches on as Kate is awarded her MBE by Prince William
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