Kate Garraway fought back the tears this morning as she recalled the ‘breakthrough’ moment her husband Derek Draper spoke his first word since emerging from coma.
The Good Morning Britain presenter revealed Draper appeared to mouth the word ‘pain’ when asked by nurses if he was in any discomfort.
While Garraway, who shares daughter Darcey, 14, and son Billy, 11, with the former lobbyist, said it was ‘heartbreaking’ he was suffering, it marked progress in his recovery since being struck down with coronavirus in March.
But the 53-year-old is ‘keeping herself in check’ and said: ‘The power of hope is huge but you’re constantly trying to think, at what point do I have to start being real.’
Kate Garraway fought back the tears this morning as she recalled the ‘breakthrough’ moment her husband Derek Draper spoke his first word since emerging from coma (Kate and Derek pictured in December)
Speaking on Good Morning Britain from west London, she said: ‘Way back in April when we chatted for the first time and I said “look he seems to have survives so far, so I know I already have my miracle”.
‘But now I’m praying for the second miracle and that is for him to come back to us. It’s very difficult because this could be it. I’m very much trying to keep myself in check, not start crying, because we still don’t know.’
Garraway explained that throughout 53-year-old Draper’s hospitalisation, doctors and nurses have continued treating him as if conscious, telling him when they were about to move him and asking if he were in any pain.
She recalled: ‘And they did this, and he very clearly mouthed the word “pain”. Everybody that was there stopped and couldn’t believe it.’
While Garraway said it was ‘heartbreaking’ he was suffering, it marked progress in his recovery since being struck down with coronavirus in March
The TV presenter added: ‘It is a huge breakthrough, obviously it’s heartbreaking because he feels pain and that’s not what we want….
‘What it means is that he’s been able to connect a sensation in his body, with his mouth through his brain to say the word “pain”.
But she said: ‘I’ve spoken to you both before about is he still in there, is he locked away. I believe he is still in there. That’s a long way from being Derek with all his multiple words of colour with all the love, but it’s a start.
‘The power of hope is huge but you’re constantly trying to think, at what point do I have to start being real
The Good Morning Britain presenter revealed Draper appeared to mouth the word ‘pain’ when asked by nurses if he was in any discomfort
She said there was ‘still a long road to go and we still don’t know how far down that road he can come’.
Garraway said: ‘I was getting scared because I was thinking if it’s hard for him, how hard must it be for him stuck in there.’
When asked if she was okay while appearing on Lorraine later in the day, Kate replied: ‘I think so. I try to go day to day. Now we’re trying to plan really. Don’t you feel the whole nation was living on emergency measures?…
‘It went on and on and you have to try and find the life in the midst in the emergency. I know people are saying I look a bit thin, I promise you, I am eating. I am feeding myself.’
On their children, she went on: ‘They are okay. It’s so wonderful to see Derek like that [in a family picture shown on screen. He’s lost a lot of hair. None of this is official, but people report hair loss. It might not be a direct symptom, I think that’s probably the least of his worries.’
Speaking to GMB, she said: ‘Way back in April when we chatted for the first time and I said “look he seems to have survives so far, so I know I already have my miracle”
In August, Kate revealed she is writing a self-help book as she continues to support Derek. She admitted that she was given the deal before Derek’s illness and is now tweaking the book to include ‘insights’ from the ordeal.
She plans to call the book Good Morning Life: How To Wake Up Every Day And Smile.
Shortly after Kate’s appearance, her co-star on the show, Piers Morgan revealed both his parents contracted coronavirus.
The star spoke about how his mum and step-dad, Gabrielle and Glynne Pughe-Morgan, have fought the disease over a ‘scary fortnight’.
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He did however confirm that they had come out the other side and are in recovery, with his step-father complaining about loss of taste and smell.
Hard times: Shortly after Kate’s appearance, her co-star on the show, Piers Morgan revealed both his parents contracted coronavirus (Piers and his parents, pictured in 2012)
Kate and her co-host Alex Beresford discussed self-help books after Adele praised Glennon Doyle’s Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living for ‘changing her life’.
During the chat, she said: ‘I am going to declare that just before Derek got sick I started writing a book, I got a publishing deal, based on well-being and all the things I’ve learned.
‘It was going to be called Good Morning Life: How To Wake Up Every Day And Smile, it’s still going ahead, I’m still writing it, but I’m going to include obviously different insight that has happened to me along the way.’
She added: ‘I find that there are books that are very helpful.’
Inspirational: On Sunday, Kate was dubbed ‘amazing’ by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for her resilience amid Derek’s COVID-19 battle during the Pride Of Britain Awards
On Sunday, Kate was dubbed ‘amazing’ by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for her resilience amid Derek’s COVID-19 battle during the Pride Of Britain Awards.
Kate was joined by Prince William and Kate Middleton in a pre-recorded segment to honour the NHS – a cause close to the news anchor’s heart since her husband contracted coronavirus months ago.
Thanking the Duke and Duchess for joining her for the show, Kate, 38, replied: ‘I think you’re amazing to do this – you’ve had such a hard time yourself. How are you all doing?’
High praise: Kate was joined by Prince William and Kate Middleton in a pre-recorded segment to honour the NHS – a cause close to the news anchor’s heart since her husband contracted coronavirus months ago
‘We are doing okay – it’s very difficult, you can’t visit. The children still haven’t been able to visit. I think that is a huge pressure for everybody.’
William, 38, said: ‘It’s been very difficult for a lot of people.’ To which Kate replied: ‘You’ve had it in your own family as well!’
‘Yeah, my father had it very early on,’ William said, with Kate adding that Prince Charles contracted COVID-19 around the same time as Derek, 53, did.
