(Credits: James Gourley/ITV/REX)
Kate Garraway has suffered ‘unimaginable pain’ as husband Derek Draper battles for his life in a coma, pal Lorraine Kelly revealed.
Derek, 52, was rushed to hospital with coronavirus at the end of March, and moved to intense care days later as his symptoms worsened.
Kate announced that the dad-of-two had emerged from a ‘deep coma’ and recently ‘opened his eyes’.
The 53-year-old will be returning to her presenting stint on Good Morning Britain next week, after a doctor encouraged her to return to normality – and her ITV co-star has praised her strength while ‘going through hell’.
Penning a column for The Sun, Lorraine said: ‘She has been coping with the unimaginable pain and distress of her husband Derek battling for his life after contracting Covid-19.
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‘Kate has never once complained or asked: “Why me?” She has simply soldiered on, reassuring and raising her children, praising the NHS and helping others in the same boat.
‘She’s watched the father of her children and the man she loves being attacked and ravaged by this vicious disease.
‘Her hopes have been raised and dashed but throughout it all, Kate has never given up on Derek.’
Derek was taken in for treatment in March, with the presenter revealing coronavirus had ‘wreaked havoc’ on his body.
After announcing he was officially Covid-19 free in an emotional interview on Good Morning Britain, Kate confirmed that he had opened his eyes.
‘We’re keeping positive and doing everything we can to bring him round. The children and I communicate with him every day on FaceTime, while a nurse holds his iPad,’ she told Hello! Magazine.
‘I really believe he can hear. When medical staff say: “Good morning, Derek”, he sometimes opens his eyes. We and the doctors are doing everything we can so that he can start to recover.’
The NHS team warned that Derek’s current condition could persist ‘for years’ but have also offered hope as there are signs that he can hear.
‘They’ve told me that I need to go back to work and create a routine in our lives again,’ she added.
‘The children and Derek are all I’ve thought about and they’re the most important people in my life, but I must create structure and normality for the children, to clean the bath, put the plates in the dishwasher, and tidy the house.’
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