It was an emotional retelling of the story, but ITV Good Morning Britain presenter, Kate Garraway has shared the details of a recent trip out with husband Derek Draper. The rare outing saw the couple head to London's O2 arena to see Sir Elton John on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.
Former political advisor, Derek, was struck down with Covid early in 2020. He quickly became critically ill and he is believed to be the worst-affected living Covid patient in the UK after spending 13 months in hospital between March 2020 and April 2021. Health battles that followed still continue and the 55-year-old 's struggles are well-documented and Kate champions the plight of Covid victims.
However, it was revealed on Tuesday, April 18, that the couple had managed a rare night out. They had travelled from their North London home to the O2 in East London along with their children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 13, to see Elton John during his last ever tour. The 76-year-old told fans in the crowd that Kate and her husband had endured "really tough times" following Derek's medical ordeal, going on to dedicate song 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me' to the couple.
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Sir Elton is reported by Manchester Evening News to have said of the couple: "They’re inspiring. They’ve never given up and I’m so thrilled they’re here, I can’t believe they are here." He added: "I want to dedicate this song to the people I mentioned before, but especially to you guys."
Following the family's night out, on Monday (April 17), Kate told Smooth Radio: "Right up to the last minute, I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to get Derek there. It took weeks of planning and just days before, it looked like he would be too sick to attend. Even on the journey there, he seemed so weak.
"But as soon as we got into the stadium and Elton went on stage, he started weeping tears of joy, and squeezed my hand so tightly." She said her husband refused to wear ear defenders for an hour so he could hear the music but "at one point it seemed it might be all too much for him" and "he started shaking".
She continued: “His nurses and I took him outside the hall to let him have a moment to stretch and relax in the dark and silence. After a while, I asked him if it was time to go and he said, ‘No, want to go back’, so we gave him ear defenders to reduce the stimulation and wheeled him back to the concert.
"It must have been fate as that was the exact moment Elton suddenly dedicated Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me to Derek and his journey." Kate went on: "We were all in tears, the kids, Derek and even the nurses. It was completely unexpected. People around us were so lovely and started clapping which was an extraordinary moment we will all treasure forever and Elton made it possible.
"Derek has been stuck at home for so long, so for him to experience that joy and be part of so many people’s amazing evening was just magical." Offering an update on her husband, Kate said Derek had been "exhausted" since the concert and was back in hospital for treatment.
She added: "But his spirit is lifted and we’ll always have that special moment as a family, whatever the future holds. I can’t thank Elton and David enough. They are such kind people and have been so supportive to us all over the last three years. We have been surrounded by so much kindness from people everywhere. It really keeps us going through the hard times. We’re just bursting with gratitude."
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