Kate Garraway has discussed the 'loss' that has been felt amid her husband Derek Draper's health battle. Fans of the Good Morning Britain star have watched and listened to her talk openly and honestly about the devastating effect Covid has had on her family.
Derek, a former Labour lobbyist and psychotherapist, was struck down with the virus at the start of the pandemic in March 2020. He was admitted to hospital and soon placed in an induced coma as coronavirus 'wreaked havoc' on his body.
The 54-year-old spent more than a year in hospital and returned home to his wife of 17 years and their two children - Darcey, 16, and 12-year-old Billy, in April last year where he now received around-the-clock care.
Earlier this week during the latest episode of her health series Your Body Uncovered, which sees participants come face-to-face with their medical conditions through the use of virtual reality technology, Kate spoke to a lady called Lynne whose husband, Paul, suffered a stroke three years ago.
A former flood risk manager and keen adventurer, Paul has since been left with neurological challenges and suffers from symptoms including neuro fatigue.
Speaking to Paul's wife, Kate referenced her own experiences after her husband Derek's own battle with his neurological condition. "I have a little bit of experience with this with my husband being sick - when something is neurological it's not just caring for a physical problem, it affects the relationship as well," the 54-year-old TV star explained.
Paul's wife Lynne admitted it does change a persons relationship, saying: "And you don't know how it is going the effect the non-affected person, as it was, because you're still the same and they might not know how different they might be."
Kate agreed adding: "Yeah. There's a loss, I think. There's a loss for them in the fact that they're changed in some way, but there's a loss that you have to adjust to as well, as a partner."
The mum-of-two also opened up about her husband's speech struggles during an episode of GMB this week. Kate and co-host Richard Madeley were talking to former The Bill star Chris Ellison who appeared in his first interview, alongside his wife Anita, since he was diagnosed with aphasia - a language disorder caused by damage in a specific area of the brain that controls language expression and comprehension.
The actor, best known for playing DCI Frank Burnside on the hit show, was diagnosed with the condition after a severe stroke in the summer of 2020.
While talking to Chris and Anita, Kate commented: "In a sense Derek – because of Covid – has a version of this where he can understand, sometimes do odd words, but can't express himself. It's very interesting what you say Anita about the loneliness of that because you've lost that relationship and that ability for others to see your partner."
