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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Gemma Jones

GMB's Kate Garraway 'can't give up' on husband Derek when money 'runs out'

Kate Garraway has said that she can't give up on her husband even when money runs out.

The 54-year-old broadcaster opened up on her husband Derek Draper's condition and gruelling road to recovery in her Caring For Derek documentary.

The political lobbyist spent 374 days in hospital as he fell seriously ill after contracting coronavirus in March 2020.

READ MORE: Kate Garraway says Derek could die 'within three days' without care

The programme documented the moment Derek returned home after over a year in hospital - including being in a coma for 10 weeks.

He has battled severe long-term effects and a series of health problems since his diagnosis, including multiple organ failure and clots on his lung, and continues to recover almost two years on.

Speaking about the documentary while appearing on ITV's This Morning, Kate praised the carers that the family now relied on as she said they were 'extraordinary'.

Holly said: "That's what what really struck me about it is the amount of care he needs. Like this is around the clock isn't it?"

Kate replied: "Yeah and because of his extreme health needs, he does have 24 hour care so somebody has to be awake at night and somebody has to be awake during the day and I can't be awake 24 hours so it's fantastic to have that."

Derek was treated by specialist doctors in Mexico at one point and Kate revealed her thoughts of that time.

She said: "That came at a really low point when I thought, 'oh god, this is not sustainable'.

"The system, I mean I don't believe we can have 24 hour care forever, you know there's a point where money runs out!

"It's a big moment, I was thinking, 'this isn't sustainable' and if there isn't the structure there to help long term, what are we actually going to do? Because we can't give up on him."

In the documentary, Kate revealed that Derek could die 'within three days' if he stopped receiving proper care.

She said: "It's life or death care still. If Derek didn't have somebody with him, he would never have any nutrition go into his body or water. He would be dead within three days."

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