Kate Garraway has shared a message of ‘hope’ and ‘new beginnings’ on Instagram, as she comes to terms with the death of her beloved husband Derek Draper.
The presenter, 56, marked Easter Sunday by thanking those who are working as she spent quality time with her two children while also working.
In a message to her 1.2 million followers, the Good Morning Britain host penned: ‘Happy Easter everyone! Usually we have a mega family egg hunt at my Aunty Lynne’s but this year I am actually working – although in a spectacular location & have brought the kids with me so hard to call it work.
‘Very grateful to be able to have this time and sending love to all who are working today in less glamorous locations – keeping the wheels turning for the rest of us.
‘Hope you find some joy & new hope today & everyday xxx #hope. #newbeginnings. #love.’
Kate Garraway has shared a message of ‘hope’ and ‘new beginnings’ on Instagram on Sunday as she comes to terms with the death of her beloved husband Derek Draper
The former political lobbyist died in January aged 56 after struggling with a number of health woes after contacting Covid-19
It comes after Kate choked back tears on GMB last week as she movingly told how she didn’t want to give up as she talked about her crippling debt hell from caring for her late husband.
She said she felt ashamed for being ‘completely broke’ after having to pay out £16,000 a month in care bills as she acknowledged her ‘well paid’ job at ITV wasn’t enough to cover the cost.
Speaking on GMB last week – ahead of Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story release, which follows chronicle Draper’s final year of life – she emotionally told of her fight to change the social care system after receiving thousands of letters in support.
A visibly emotional Kate choked back tears as she said: ‘I’m sad because I don’t have the chance to care any more but it felt wrong to walk away from the caring campaign I felt I have a responsibility for. I’ve had 8,000 letters from people saying “please don’t give up”… because we need this [the system] to change.
‘If something can be done it will be a wonderful legacy for Derek.’
In a trailer for the ITV documentary, Kate revealed she had racked up a mountain of debt as she was told Derek wasn’t sick enough to qualify for funded care as she warned the system was on the verge of collapsing.
The former political lobbyist died in January aged 56.
She also told of the agony of hearing Derek shrieking out in frustration and how he felt like he was a complete burden in his final months alive.
The presenter, 56, marked Easter Sunday by thanking those who are working as she spent quality time with her two children Darcey 18 and Billy, 14 while also working
She penned: ‘Happy Easter everyone! Usually we have a mega family egg hunt but this year I am actually working – although in a spectacular location & have brought the kids with me. Hope you find some joy & new hope today & everyday’
Kate spoke on Good Morning Britain last week about her crippling debt bill from caring for her late husband
The presenter had to pay out £16,000 a month in care bills as she acknowledged her ‘well paid’ job at ITV wasn’t enough to cover the cost, leaving her in huge debt
Kate told Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid this morning: ‘It’s horrific it’s actually hard to watch now as I want to climb into the TV screen and say “just stop as your life is going to be taken from you because of the damage caused from Covid”.
‘One of the biggest frustrations [for Derek] was the complete loss of purpose. He felt like a total failure and he felt an incredible burden on the carers, on the system, on us and it didn’t matter what we said. He felt that burden.’
Kate said the documentary was Derek’s way of saying ‘I’m going to speak up for the people who have supported me’.
Talking of her debt shame, she said: ‘I’m kind of ashamed to be in debt because I have an incredible job I love that’s very well paid. I’m not a carer travelling miles paying for my own transport to help someone. I’m someone who is very well paid and I feel ashamed I couldn’t make it work.’
Joining Derek and Kate in May 2023, the film confronts head on the reality of Derek’s struggles and the effect on those around him, while also capturing the sweet moments he spent with family and never-before-seen images and footage.
In scenes from the upcoming documentary, Kate speaks about the financial constraints she has faced with Derek – who required round-the-clock care before his death.
Faced with a debt of up to £800,000 Kate confessed: ‘Derek’s care costs more than my salary from ITV and that’s before you pay for a mortgage or household bills or anything for the kids – so that is a crunch point.’
‘We are entirely reliant on extraordinary carers but the system they work for is incredibly complicated and underfunded…
‘Why is it people get sick and it’s no longer considered the right thing for them to be in hospital, why does coming home feel like falling off a cliff?’
Kate’s late husband was plagued with health woes after contracting Covid in March 2020, which saw him put in a coma, battle sepsis and left with difficulties communicating.
Derek’s Story features him talking on camera for the first time since his health battle as he admitted: ‘I want to be heard.’
Derek had been plagued with health woes after contracting the virus in March 2020, which saw him put in a coma, battle sepsis and left with difficulties communicating (pictured 2019)
Kate has opened up about the crippling debt she accrued caring for husband Derek Draper, admitting she’s at ‘crunch point’
His limitations and his need for care was evident in the documentary, with the father-of-two breaking down in tears as he attempted to pull himself up onto a walking aide with the help of his mobility therapist.
Unable to stand, Derek burst into tears and labelled himself ‘pathetic’ in heartbreaking scenes.
Kate attempted to console him, insisting ‘it’s not pathetic, you’re absolutely trying’ and the strain on her face was also clear to see.
One sweet moment saw Kate task Derek with opening some of her birthday cards and reading out the messages for her, but even that simple action left Derek in need of rest.
While Derek admitted he could feel an improvement in his health and their son Billy said he could ‘see the difference’, Kate confessed that she couldn’t allow herself to think about what this meant going forward.
She explained: ‘I don’t look forward to the future because every time I feel like this is really fantastic, and we’ve had some amazing moments, something terrible has happened.’
Opening up about her heartbreak for Derek himself, Kate shared: ‘The tragedy for me is that it feels like his brain was his best friend and now it’s his worst enemy.’
Detailing a rough patch he was going through, she explained: ‘He has been very down.
‘Wondering about the future a lot of crying. “I’ve let everybody down and what is the meaning of life? what can I contribute?”
‘The thing that helps that is having that sense of purpose, remind him these things take time even if I don’t really know if that’s the answer.’
Kate also offered a heartbreakingly honest account of how Derek’s condition had impacted their 19-year marriage.
Admitting there are moments when she doesn’t ‘feel’ it from her husband, Kate added: ‘I’m trying to work out if I feel loved by him.
‘I know I am but we’ve got a whole journey there.’
Former Labour insider and psychotherapist Derek married presenter Kate in 2005 and they went on to welcome children Darcey 18 and Billy, 14.
In 2021, just over a year after contracting Covid, he was able to leave hospital and return to his family home in north London, with round-the-clock care.
In August 2022 he was taken to hospital with sepsis but pulled through. Then in early December 2023, Derek had a heart attack and was taken to hospital again.
Tragically, he wasn’t able to overcome the latest medical emergency and on January 5 Kate confirmed that Derek died.
In a post on social media, she said that her husband died surrounded by family and that she was ‘holding his hand throughout the last long hours’.
