Kate Garraway reflects on ‘toughest of times’ as husband remains in hospital nearly year after contracting Covid

Kate Garraway has reflected on what she’s learned over the past year, as her husband Derek Draper remains in hospital after being admitted in March last year with coronavirus.

The Good Morning Britain star – who shares two children with Derek, Darcey, 14, and Billy, 11 – has been open about the difficulties she’s faced, especially not being able to see her husband since Christmas.

Despite now being free of Covid-19, the illness has wreaked havoc on Derek’s body and he has suffered many issues as a result, including being left with holes in his heart, lung issues and diabetes which he did not have before.

Speaking about the kindness she’s found from strangers during this period, Kate has reflected on the strength she’s been given to face the toughest of challenges.

She told Hello magazine: ‘In the darkest of times you can find goodness and love just when you need it most and helping each other is the only way we will get through this grimmest of times.’

Kate, who is penning a book, The Power Of Hope, added: ‘I’ve learnt about the kindness of strangers. It has been the toughest of times for me and my family, as it has for so many others and the good wishes and sympathy from viewers and listeners has really helped.

‘To know so many people are thinking of me and sending love has given me hope and strength and I’m very grateful.’

Recently the presenter revealed she’s been unable to see Derek – whom she married in 2005 – at all this year.

She explained on GMB: ‘I haven’t been able to see him since Christmas, which means he’s back into a situation of looking at strangers in masks.

‘That’s the situation for everybody at the moment who’s got someone in hospital, it’s not unique to him. It’s tough, it’s also the same for people in care homes.

‘When you’re someone like him that is dealing with a consciousness problem and trying to emerge, I can’t help but feel like it’s not very helpful.’

Kate added there was no one to blame for the situation, going on: ‘I feel that it is and so that’s very tough and, of course, there’s no end in sight. That’s a really tough thing…

‘There’s no one to blame, there’s no one to be angry with, it’s the situation we’re all in.’

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