Kate Garraway is reportedly preparing her kids for a heartbreaking Christmas after her husband Derek Draper suffered a heart attack last week.
The husband of the Good Morning Britain host, 56, has been plagued with health issues since being diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020.
The presenter has cancelled all of her work commitments following Derek’s Heart attack,
It has been reported that Kate will be holding a 24/7 vigil alongside her husband after his latest set of health issues.
Following the news of Derek’s health setback, MailOnline take a look at the father-of-two’s health battle after contracting COVID in 2020.
MARCH 2020: DEREK IS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19
Kate Garraway is reportedly preparing her kids for a heartbreaking Christmas after her husband Derek Draper suffered a heart attack last week (family pictured in 2019)
The Good Morning Britain host, 56, has cancelled all of the TV work commitments hold at 24/7 vigil with Derek, 56, following his latest health setback (Kate pictured in 2021)
In March 2020, the lives of Kate Garraway’s family was turned upside down after her husband Derek was diagnosed with COVID-19.
The father-of-two became severely unwell after his diagnosis and was in hospital ofr over a year.
A month afterwards, a spokesperson confirmed that Kate was self-isolating in the family home as she was also showing symptoms of the disease.
APRIL 2020: DEREK PLACED INTO A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA
Following his COVID-19 diagnosis in March, Derek was placed into a medically induced coma in an attempt to help his body fight the effects of the diease (pictured)
The presenter revealed after her husband came out of his coma in September, his first words were ‘pain’
A month later, Derek was put into a medically induced coma in a bid to help his system battle against the impacts of COVID.
During this difficult time, The Good Morning Britain presenter shared she would often try to talk with her husband by playing some of his favourite tunes via Facetime.
Although the journalist confirmed her husband had managed to ward off the COVID-19 infection, unfortunately the disease had ‘wreaked extraordinary havoc’ on her husband’s body.
Despite his recovery, she revealed that Derek would have to remain in a coma for the next 12 months.
And although, came out of his coma and was in a ‘minimally conscious state,’ the following month, Kate and her children could not visit Derek for another four months.
When Kate eventually was able to see her husband she revealed it was a total ‘shock’ to see him.
Derek had lost around eight stone whilst being in his medically induced coma, and was also unconscious and connected to a myriad of tubes.
In September, the daytime TV host said that her husband’s first word when he came round was ‘pain’.
Derek was able to breath independently – without a ventilator – after spending 214 days hospitalised.
MARCH 2021: KATE LAUNCHES ITV DOCUMENTARY ABOUT DEREK’S HEALTH STRUGGLES
A year after Derek was diagnosed with COVID-19, Kate launched an ITV documentary about their journey called Caring For Derek
A year post Derek’s hospital admission, Kate launched her ITV documentary named Caring For Derek.
In the show, which was released on March 23, 2021, the mother-of-two shared the arduous time she and her family had experienced following Derek’s battle with COVID-19.
Mere weeks after the documentary, to the delight of their family, Derek was finally able to come home on April 8.
On Good Morning Britain, Kate confirmed the news, adding that Derek would need 24.7 care as his speech was ‘very minimal’ and that he wasn’t able to move a great deal.
There were still difficult times to come for Kate, who became bravely faced packing away her husband’s office after avoiding doing it for some time as it was ‘too emotional’.
APRIL 2022: KATE GETS EMOTIONAL AFTER MEETING THE NURSE WHO LOOKED AFTER DEREK
Kate became emotional when she was reunited with Derek’s nurse on Good Morning Britain in April 2022 (pictured left to right in 2021: Derek, Darcey, Kate and Billy)
The Good Morning Britain host later shared that she was becoming distressed as her husband was in and out of the hospital again (family pictured in 2018)
April 2022 was another emotionally fuelled month for the broadcaster, as she reconnected with the medical professional who cared for her husband on Good Morning Britain.
A couple months post the joyful reunion, Kate sadly admitted she was distressed as her was frequently back and forth from hospital.
During the Tric Awards, she told The Sun: ‘He’s ok, he’s back in hospital actually, so that’s a development. There we are.’
But, as Derek’s health continued to worsen, Kate eventually withdrew from her presenting gig on Good Morning Britain.
According to The Mirror, a source revealed that the family were concerned about the father-of-two’s health.
An ITV spokesperson told The Mirror: ‘Kate is taking some time off work over the next few days, and is hoping to be back to her normal presenting duties as soon as possible.’
JULY 2023: KATE RECEIVES MBE FOR HER SERVICES TO JOURNALISM
Their journey has had some positives as Derek was able to watch Kate be honored for her services to journalism and broadcast by Prince William (pictured: Kate Garraway, Derek Draper and her parents Gordon and Marilyn Garraway)
Kate Garraway was presented with her MBE in July by Prince William, with her husband Derek Draper watching on from his wheelchair (he can be seen to the right of Kate)
The author and former lobbyist, 55, looked filled with glee as his doting wife was presenting with an MBE
The journey for the couple was not all difficult, as Kate was presented with an MBE for her dedication to journalism and broadcast in July.
Derek could be seen smiling in a wheelchair as he watched the ceremony – looking happy and healthier following a gruelling ordeal that saw him become the longest surviving hospital patient with Covid in the UK – as his wife was presented with an MBE by Prince William.
Afterwards, the ceremony presenter described that she felt ‘unbelievable’ after spending the special day with her husband.
‘So many hours, we thought it would never happen, but here we are. It’s fantastic. It’s a real feeling of ”Right, seize the day and enjoy the moment”.’
SEPTEMBER 2023: KATE REVEALS THEY DON’T KNOW IF DAVID WILL GET BETTER
Kate bravely admitted in September that they are still in the dark about how much better Derek may get, adding: ‘ we’re still in that adrenaline phase of “is this the moment where he could be taken from us”‘ (pictured: Kate, Derek, Darcey, 17, and Billy, 13)
Last month, the journalist shared on a podcast shared a saddening update on Derek’s condition, adding that her husband was ‘living in the world of the unknown’ (pictured in 2019)
Kate appeared on Heart Breakfast in September alongside Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston where she spoke about her husband’s health problems and the effects on the family as a whole.
‘We still don’t know, just how much better Derek can get, or worse. So really every time he has a rush into hospital, we’re still in that adrenaline phase of “is this the moment where he could be taken from us”.’
‘But also, there’s so many spikes of progression, that no one’s giving up hope that there isn’t going to be a movement forward, so it’s managing that rollercoaster. Sorry that wasn’t particularly clear.’
Unfortunately, Kate bravely shared a saddening update regarding her husband’s condition.
Speaking on the Peter Leonard’s Emotionally Speaking podcast, Kate said: ‘He is living in the world of the unknown.
‘When he wakes up in the morning it is heartbreaking because it feels as though you are watching someone who may have been inhabiting his old life in his dreams,’ she said.
‘And then he wakes up and you see the cloud descend of the battle he has ahead.
‘But if you look back, there is some progress, he has more words now and his voice is stronger.’
