Kate Garraway supports her frail husband Derek Draper during a rare outing to the pub as she ‘plans a trip across the world to find pioneering treatment’
Kate Garraway supported her frail husband Derek Draper as they headed to a pub for lunch on Sunday.
It is a rare outing for former political lobbyist Derek, 55, who has faced devastating health complications after his body was ravaged by coronavirus three years ago.
The couple showed their strength and determination as they made their journey to their local – which is no easy feat as Kate revealed last month there are days where Derek simply ‘cannot do anything’.
The Good Morning Britain presenter, 55, is reportedly planning a trip across the world to find pioneering treatment as a ‘last hope’.
During their outing, they were joined by a carer who pushed Derek’s wheelchair, while Kate ensured he kept warm by handing him his leather gloves.
Touching: Kate Garraway supported her frail husband Derek Draper as they headed to a pub for lunch on Sunday
Health battle: It is a rare outing for former political lobbyist Derek, 55, who has faced devastating health complications after his body was ravaged by coronavirus three years ago
Determined: The couple showed their strength and determination as they made their journey to their local
At one point, the TV host rested her hands on his shoulders and offered some words of comfort.
After the meal, Kate was pictured carrying bags of leftovers to bring home, with insiders saying the trip was a big step.
A source told The Sun: ‘It was a lovely day out for them. Something others may take for granted, a simple trip to the pub, was a big step for them and they really enjoyed it.’
Kate is reportedly planning a trip across the world for pioneering treatment in a ‘final hope’ to help her husband.
A source told Bella Magazine: ‘This really is Kate’s desperate bid to try and save Derek’s life and she is willing to try anything.
‘She’s been looking into a number of experimental medical options around the world and particularly in Mexico in an effort to save him from the devastating effects of Covid-19.
‘Kate only wants the best for Derek. She wants to try it because she feels as though it’s her last hope.’
Derek, a former political advisor, has previously travelled to Mexico in 2021 and 2022 for clinical trials.
Willpower: It is no easy feat as Kate revealed last month there are days where Derek simply ‘cannot do anything’
Helping hand: During their outing, they were joined by a carer who pushed Derek’s wheelchair
Devoted: Kate ensured Derek kept warm by handing him his leather gloves
Chilly: She pulled up his hood as they battled the windy weather
Quality time: A source said: ‘It was a lovely day out for them. Something others may take for granted, a simple trip to the pub, was a big step for them and they really enjoyed it’
Outing: After the meal, Kate was pictured carrying bags of leftovers to bring home, with insiders saying the trip was a big step
Heartbreaking: Derek’s body was ravaged with various crippling conditions after he contracted Covid and he now remains confined to a bed and wheelchair
Battle: The Good Morning Britain star has cared for Derek ever since he became unwell with Long Covid in 2020 after becoming gravely ill with the virus at the onset of the pandemic
As a result of lockdown rules during the pandemic, Kate and the couple’s two children Darcey, 16, and Billy, 13, were unable to visit him as he received treatment.
13 months later, Derek was finally allowed to go home.
However, following the long period of hospitalisation, his body was ravaged with various crippling conditions and he now remains confined to a bed and wheelchair.
While Derek’s long-term chance of recovery is still not known, the ‘utter devastation’ to his body is undeniable.
Although Kate insisted that they’d had ‘wonderful treatment’ from the NHS, which were essential in keeping her husband alive, the foreign trips offer ‘potentially life saving treatment’.
As well as the trip, the Smooth Radio presenter has had to spend ‘tens of thousands of pounds’ adapting the family home in London for Derek, which included the installation of ramps, a downstairs wet room and a makeshift downstairs bedroom.
Due to the severity of his illness and length of time spent in hospital he remains unable to walk and has developed debilitating symptoms.
In summer last year, Derek developed sepsis and was again rushed to hospital, where the severe condition nearly killed him.
Speaking about his current condition and caring for him, she told The Sun: ‘There are some days where he literally cannot do anything and it’s like the computer is switched off.
‘He cannot move, and he’s in so much pain as we are manipulating him, trying to get him more mobile so that he doesn’t regress.’
The presenter noted that despite Derek’s insistence that they carry on, she says it’s ‘unbearable’ to see him in pain, admitting it makes her ’emotional’ just speaking about it.
However, she added: ‘It also makes me fall in love with him all over again because of that spirit, that determination to keep going. Derek is trapped, but he fights on. We cling on to the good days.’
Reflecting on the ups and downs of caring for her husband, Kate remarked that every day is a ‘roller coaster’ as Derek’s spirit ‘fluctuates’.
The journalist added that it is ‘heart-breaking’ to watch her husband of 18 years unable to move with tears streaming down his face, noting that as ‘hard’ as it is for them, she ‘cannot imagine’ how tough it is for Derek.
MailOnline has contacted representatives of Kate Garraway for comment.
Tough: Due to the severity of his illness and length of time spent in hospital he remains unable to walk and has developed debilitating symptoms
A timeline of Derek Draper’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
MARCH
Kate revealed that was in the process of adapting her home to suit Derek’s needs when he is finally released from hospital, in the ITV documentary Finding Derek.
The programmed was praised by viewers for offering a heartbreaking look at the long-term effects of coronavirus.
Kate also revealed that Derek has ‘no muscle left’ since battling Covid
APRIL
Kate revealed that Derek was finally allowed to leave hospital, but would require round-the-clock care once he was returned home.
MAY
Kate revealed that despite now being home with his family, his communication abilities were ‘minimal’ and he ‘couldn’t really move’
DECEMBER
During an appearance on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, Kate revealed that Derek had said ‘I love you’ for the first time.
After celebrating Christmas, Derek was also pictured in a wheelchair during a trip to the pantomime with his family
JANUARY 2022
Kate revealed that Derek was ‘very fatigued’ and ‘very weak’ following the family outing, adding: ‘I don’t know what this year is going to bring.’
FEBRUARY
Kate offered a glimpse into the daily struggles of looking after her husband amid his battle with long Covid in the documentary Caring For Derek
She also revealed that Derek would die within three days if he was left alone to care for himself.
JULY
On July 6, Kate revealed that Derek had been re-admitted to hospital after suffering a ‘downturn,’ and in a later interview said she takes things ‘day by day.’
On July 20, it was reported that Kate had pulled out of hosting Good Morning Britain to be at Derek’s bedside after he took a ‘very serious’ turn for the worse.
Source: Read Full Article
