https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-9248603/Kate-Garraway-reveals-able-visit-ailing-husband-Derek-Draper-Christmas.html'I haven't seen Derek since Christmas': Kate Garraway reveals she hasn't been able to visit ailing husband for weeks after 'staring at four walls' during break from GMB
* The Good Morning Britain presenter, 53, has been a constant by Derek's side following his hospitalisation with the deadly virus in March 2020
* Kate has not been able to visit her husband, 53, in hospital since December following a dramatic surge in coronavirus infections across the UK
* The broadcaster admitted she is finding her current situation 'really tough' because it feels like there is 'no end in sight'
* In September, Derek passed the grim milestone of becoming the longest hospitalised patient battling coronavirus in Britain
* While Derek no longer has coronavirus, the disease has left him suffering from multiple health conditions including diabetes and holes in his heart and lungs
By Jason Chester for MailOnline
Published: 07:16, 11 February 2021 | Updated: 10:45, 11 February 2021
Kate Garraway hasn't seen ailing husband Derek Draper since Christmas as he continues his slow recovery from COVID-19. The Good Morning Britain presenter, 53, has been a constant by Derek's side following his hospitalisation with the potentially deadly virus in March 2020. Appearing on Thursday's edition of the show, Kate revealed she hadn't seen her husband in almost two months following a surge in infections and explained her ITV employers had given her leave after she found herself struggling to cope. The broadcaster has been unable to see Derek, 53, due to new restrictions introduced during the third lockdown, which bans any visitors on the ward where he is recovering. Kate said: 'I haven't been able to see him [Derek], I haven't seen him since Christmas. He's back in a situation now looking at strangers in masks. I think that's a situation for everybody whose got someone they love in hospital at the moment it's not unique to him.'
The mother-of-two explained she decided to take some time off from GMB after 'not feeling well' following a 'long year'. Kate said: 'I've taken some time off; very kindly ITV have given me some time off, I hadn't been feeling very well. I think it might have been one of those things where chickens had come home to roost after a long year that we've all had, haven't we? I took some holiday leave, at home because I know holidays are controversial, literally within the four walls of my home. I had a lot of sleep and a bit of medicine and feeling much better.'
Kate admitted she is finding her current situation 'really tough' because it feels like there is 'no end in sight'. She explained: 'It's tough, it's also the same for people in care homes. When you're someone like him who is dealing with unconsciousness problems and trying to emerge, I can't help but fear that it's not helpful. There is no end in sight to that and that's really tough.'
Kate also revealed she was keen to discuss the ongoing health crisis with Britain's Health Secretary, a guest on the show later that morning. She said: 'We've got Matt Hancock coming on the show a little bit later on. I haven't spoken to him since Derek got sick and there's lots of things to ask, but there's no one to blame here it's the situation we're all in.'
In September, Derek passed the grim milestone of becoming the longest patient battling coronavirus in hospital in the UK, with doctors telling Kate that Derek's infection was the 'highest they had seen in a patient who had lived'. Reflecting on her last hospital visit with their two children Darcey, 14 and William, 11 in December, she admitted the family reunion was 'heightened with emotion' because they saw how Derek had been ravaged by the virus. 'It was very heightened with emotion, because he's very changed,' she told viewers earlier this month.
'So all the routines that we'd normally do, it was one of those moments that it was so wonderful but also it amplified how sad everything was. And how different it is. But it was still fantastic, and we're very grateful to have had that opportunity.'
The presenter also spoke to co-hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid about her upcoming book, The Power Of Hope, which will detail the last year of her family's life. She said: 'It's been a strange time, I've been a bit low since Christmas physically low, I felt physically at the end of my tether and had to regroup a bit. This week, a friend of mine's mother-in-law, who is 51 younger than me died from COVID. She got it at Christmas, it went down very quickly and she died, I just thought I can't believe that here we are so far on.'
While Derek no longer has coronavirus, the disease has left him suffering from multiple health conditions including diabetes and holes in his heart and lungs
'Derek's still ravaged from the effects of COVID from way back in March, his recovery is incredibly uncertain,' she added.
'I'm trying to look for new things and new ways and talking to doctors about what we can do for him meanwhile people are still dying in extraordinary numbers people that aren't older and haven't got underlying conditions, it's unbearable.'
During one of her darkest moments Kate was told her husband may 'never come out of a coma' amid his ongoing battle against coronavirus. Speaking on Good Morning Britain last month, Piers urged viewers to take the virus seriously and made the stark revelation that former lobbyist and political advisor Derek remains in perilous condition. In his desperate message to viewers, Piers said: 'We know from our colleague Kate Garraway, whose husband is still in a coma from Covid. He may never come out of that coma. She's been told this, and it's heartbreaking.'
He had previously revealed that Derek now has holes in his heart and lungs and has lost eight stone during his battle against the deadly virus. In August, Kate revealed she was writing a self-help book but explained that she was given the deal before Derek's illness and was tweaking the book to include 'insights' from the ordeal. Derek has regained minimal consciousness from his medically induced coma and while he has not been speaking, he heartbreakingly mouthed the word 'pain' in October last year. Speaking on the 5 Years Time podcast in January, Kate confessed that after months of uncertainty, she is still unsure if Derek will recover, but is continuing to hold out hope. She explained: 'It's been really tough for us. Derek got really sick in the beginning of March. Even though we're hoping he can recover, it's taking a very, very long time. We don't know how much he can recover. So that's impacted on us obviously dramatically. So, it's been really difficult.'
Revealing that she had a more positive outlook this year, she added: 'Everybody is hoping 2021 will bring just a bit of hope and relief. The vaccine is here now, so everybody is hoping that will help COVID I think, and help us regain some normality.'
She also revealing the poignant words Piers told her in March 2020 when Derek was first hospitalised. Her co-star had referenced a cartoon comic that now-President Joe Biden told him about after losing his son; an animation of someone asking God: 'Why me?', and God replying: 'Why not?'
Kate explained that she sees that cartoon as inspirational, telling Piers and Susanna: 'It works to inspire you with confidence, what was so powerful about taking that message on board is you don't waste energy on the unfairness of the world, you pour it into trying to solve it. I then started saying, when they told me that Derek's chances of survival were next to nothing and will probably die. But some people were surviving it, and I thought: 'Well, why not? Why can't Derek survive?' and 'Why can't Derek now be the one who bucks his damage and recovers?'' You can start to flip it to shift away the unfairness and try and take it as a positive, and think why not me be the one who comes through this? I think it just takes away that grinding horror of unfairness in all situations.'
Kate also noted that returning to work on GMB and hosting Smooth Radio has provided a welcome distraction amid her personal crisis.
A timeline of Derek's coronavirus battle
MARCH 2020
Kate revealed she and Prince Charles had got 'relatively close' at the Prince's Trust Awards on March 11 Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-March. She said: 'Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said [to Derek] 'god you look ill.' He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe, I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance'
Derek, 52, was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition.
APRIL
Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed 'mild symptoms'. Kate said: 'Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I'm afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time. I'm afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.'
MAY
Kate said: 'The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight. But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.'
That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers. She said: 'I'll never give up on that because Derek's the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty'
JUNE
On June 5, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body
JULY
On July 5, Kate revealed Derek has woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition. On July 8, she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to 'get on with life' during Derek's recovery. She added that Derek had 'opened his eyes' after waking from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years. On July 13, Kate returned to GMB for the first time since Derek was hospitalised. On July 28, Kate revealed she'd paid an 'extra emotional' first visit to Derek, and admitted she's 'frustrated' by his slow progress.
AUGUST
On August 14, Kate reassured GMB viewers that Derek was 'still with us,' but it was 'a waiting game.' On August 19, Kate revealed she celebrated Derek's birthday with their two children, and described the day as 'challenging' for her family.
SEPTEMBER
At the end of September, Derek reportedly becomes the longest surviving patient with coronavirus after spending 184 days in and out of intensive care. Kate reveals Derek has lost eight stone during his battle. The presenter announces she is returning to her Smooth Radio show so Derek can hear her voice.
OCTOBER
On October 30 Kate reveals that Derek has spoken for the first time in seven months, saying the word 'pain' to his wife, who watched on 'in tears' over FaceTime. Kate says a day later that her husband no longer needs a ventilator to breathe.
NOVEMBER
Kate reveals her family car has been stolen in latest 'body blow' to her family life, as kind-hearted fans offer their cars to help. She says she feels 'physically sick' at the prospect of facing her first Christmas without Derek.
DECEMBER
The GMB star tells viewers it is her dream to visit Derek on Christmas Day. She also reveals she missed two weeks on GMB after her children were exposed to the virus, but thankfully she and the kids tested negative. On December 17, Kate has an emotional conversation live on GMB with two nurses who treated Derek when he was first admitted to Whittington Hospital in North London. On New Year's Eve she reflects on a 'calamitous' Christmas without Derek, as her house was flooded and she struggled to get a food delivery slot until her pal Emma Willis stepped in to help.
JANUARY 2021
Kate reveals she and her children got to visit Derek in hospital over the Christmas period, and it was the first time her family had seen him since he was hospitalised. She also says she's banned from seeing him due to new restrictions introduced during the government's third lockdown.
FEBRUARY
Kate reveals she is unsure how much Derek will 'ever be able to recover' following warning from doctors that he may never wake from his coma
