Kate Garraway left viewers in tears on Tuesday night as she admitted she’s ‘terribly lonely’ caring for ailing husband Derek Draper.
The Good Morning host, 54, who was also hailed for her ‘patience and strength’, provided an intimate look at caring for Covid-stricken Derek, also 54, in her new documentary.
Former lobbyist Derek was struck down with coronavirus in March 2020 and put into an induced coma by doctors – with Kate revealing he would currently die if left unaided for three days without expert care.
‘I’m crying watching you all’: Kate Garraway left viewers in tears on Tuesday as she admitted she’s ‘terribly lonely’ caring for ailing husband Derek and said a happy ending feels ‘unsustainable’
Kate has spoken openly of her husband’s recovery from the debilitating condition and gave viewers a candid glimpse into their life – and her feelings – since Derek left hospital last year – 374 days after being admitted.
‘People are really kind and say I’m an inspiration but I’m really struggling and I think it’s important for people to know that, cos I’m sure they’re struggling in their life too in whatever way.
‘I think one of the worst things is the terrible loneliness,’ she said.
Ordeal: The Good Morning host, 54, has spoken openly of her husband’s recovery from the debilitating condition and gave viewers a candid glimpse into their life since Derek left hospital last year
Psychologist Jo Hemmings wrote on Twitter during the documentary: ‘And what is most wonderful of all is that @kategarraway allows her husband to retain his dignity in the darkest of times. Her humility and kindness is just awe inspiring’.
A moved viewer chimed: ‘What a beautiful family you have. I’m smiling and crying watching you all this evening. Thank you for sharing and allowing your journey to support others. Wishing you all a world of love and best wishes xxx’.
A third only amplified the praise Kate was receiving via social media, writing: ‘The patience and strength you and the family possess Kate is so admirable.’
Response: Fans were moved by the documentary and took to social media to heap praise onto Kate, who has become Derek’s carer
Throughout the documentary, Kate offered an insight into her daily routine with her husband Derek as she detailed the ‘vast amount’ she needs to do to care for him.
The presenter shared a look at her day-to-day with the former lobbyist, which includes an endless pile of laundry due to having to change his bed linen seven times a day.
Scenes showed weary Kate assisting a carer as he moved Derek as well as the emotional moment he hugged his son Billy, 12, for the first time.
Never ending: Kate offered an insight into her daily routine with her husband Derek as she detailed the ‘vast amount’ she needs to do to care for him
During the opening of the clip, Kate asked Derek if he was okay as she shifted him up the bed with the assistance of one of the father-of-two’s carers.
Kate is then seen in the family’s utility room as she showed viewers around and revealed the huge amount of washing to be done.
She said: ‘This is all of our laundry, this pile here and all of this now is Derek’s laundry just from today. The bedding is vast, there’s a vast amount to do.
Caring For Derek: The presenter shared a look at her day-to-day with the former lobbyist, also, 54, which includes an endless pile of laundry due to having to change his bed linen seven times a day
Helping hand: A weary Kate assisted a carer as he moved Derek
Incredible amount: Kate is then seen in the family’s utility room as she showed viewers around and revealed the huge amount of washing to be done
She said: ‘This is all of our laundry, this pile here and all of this now is Derek’s laundry just from today. The bedding is vast, there’s a vast amount to do’
Kate continued: ‘So I just constantly ship it through. I think it’s a symbol of how everything is scaled up by a 100.’
The radio presenter revealed how Derek still needs 24-hour expert care as he continues his recovery, after being hospitalised with Covid in March 2020.
Another snippet released ahead of Tuesday’s episode on ITV, shows the moment Kate and Derek’s son Billy was able to hug his father for the first time.
Recovery: The radio presenter revealed how Derek still needs 24-hour expert care as he continues his recovery, after being hospitalised with Covid in March 2020
Emotional: Kate also discussed the extraordinary moment her husband Derek was able to hug their son Bill
A father’s love: Kate detailed the first time he moved his arm, and how he was able to activate a movement prompted by emotion – and how she burst into tears when she saw the footage
Kate also discussed the extraordinary moment during an appearance on Tuesday morning’s episode of Good Morning Britain.
Kate detailed the first time he moved his arm, and how he was able to activate a movement prompted by emotion – and how she burst into tears when she saw the footage.
Kate shared that she’d been outside when the emotional moment happened when he came home in April 2021, and that she only saw the footage months later, when she burst into tears.
During a new interview, Kate explained how Derek, who was struck down with coronavirus in March 2020 and put into an induced coma by doctors, would currently die if left unaided for three days without expert care.
Candid: During a new interview, Kate explained how Derek, who was struck down with coronavirus in March 2020 and put into an induced coma by doctors, would currenty die if left unaided for three days without expert care
Derek needs assistance walking from Kate and his carers because the tendons and muscles in his legs have seized up after being placed in an induced coma.
She also recalled how Derek broke down after getting up to use the comode unaided, partly because he was happy but also because ‘that’s what it has come to’.
Kate revealed that Derek sleeps between 16 and 20 hours a day while she survives on on around a quarter of this, while juggling his care and her work and family commitments.
The TV star previously told The Telegraph how she would sit by Derek’s bedside all night so that she would be there whenever he woke up.
She said: ‘It’s tempting when he drops off to use the time to prepare for work or do the mountains of washing caring for him creates or prepare the feed for his tube.
‘But I have to remind myself that it’s just as important to sit with him, so that he can feel my presence and I’ll be there when he wakes, even for just 10 minutes at a time.’
Round the clock care: During a new interview, Kate explained how Derek, who was struck down with coronavirus in March 2020 and put into an induced coma by doctors, would currently die if left unaided for three days without expert care
In a promotional clip for Caring For Derek, Kate is at home with Derek and their children Darcey, 15, and William, 12, and is seen lifting Derek in and out of a special bed.
In other shots, Derek is seen sitting in a wheelchair as he shares some quality moments with his family.
In an interview with today’s You magazine, the TV star admitted her relationship with the political lobbyist turned psychotherapist has changed since he was struck down by the virus in March 2020.
‘I’m not sure that we’ve ever fallen out of love, but I think a new path is emerging, a new way to be in love,’ said Kate.
‘He puts huge trust in me. He just says, ‘Whatever you think’, which is wonderful, but I do get quite tearful about it. I think, ‘God, I hope I’m worthy of that trust’.
‘But I’ve got his back. That is a relationship in itself, isn’t it? How many times do couples have doubts about each other?
24/7: Kate told how she often has to assist Derek’s carers throughout the day and has to change Derek’s bed linen seven times a day’
During an interview with The Sun, Kate revealed that she accompanied Derek on a 11,000-mile trip trip to Mexico for cutting-edge medical treatment amid his recovery from the debilitating condition.
She said that Derek is ‘desperate to recover’ and underwent oxygen and pressure tests to check he was able to cope with the 16-hour transatlantic flight.
Derek, who was admitted to hospital in March 2020, did not return home for more than a year following his hospital admission and the former lobbyist, who requires around-the-clock care, has at times felt suicidal.
Pioneering: During an interview with The Sun, Kate revealed that she accompanied Derek on a 11,000-mile trip trip to Mexico for cutting-edge medical treatment amid his recovery from the debilitating condition (Derek pictured entering an MRI scanner)
An eminent doctor in the States had reached out to veteran presenter Kate after seeing her beloved husband’s health battle documented on television in March 2021.
Derek has since undergone specialist treatment at a clinic in Monterrey and is set to return for 28 days next month, while healthcare professionals continue to monitor his brain, liver and lung function.
Kate, who recalled to The Sun how Derek was ‘excited’ at the prospect of receiving treatment, explained: ‘I think actually there’s a huge amount of hope for him to improve. I think the treatment could be positive. I want to be slightly careful about saying too much, because I’m aware everybody will go, ‘What is the trial?”
We’re off: She said that Derek is ‘desperate to recover’ and underwent oxygen and pressure tests to check he was able to cope with the 16-hour transatlantic flight (pictured Kate and Derek)
The Good Morning Britain host detailed hopes for a ‘happy ending’ – not just for Derek, but for those who check in regularly to see how he’s getting on.
However, the level-headed presenter admitted that, despite there being ‘a lot of positives’, her husband-of-16-years was ‘not out of the woods’ and would require ‘much more’ treatment.
Patches of white flagged up on one of his early brain scans which, a neurologist said, was usually seen more in patients with vascular dementia.
Kate is yet to have an agreed diagnosis as experts still do not fully understand the long-term effects of the virus.
Caring For Derek airs tonight at 9pm on ITV and ITV Hub.
