Kate Garraway thanked fans for their continued support amid her husband’s on-going health battle
(Picture: PA Archive)Kate Garraway says she appreciates the public support that she and her family have received after revealing her husband, Derek Draper, was back in hospital last week after being diagnosed with sepsis.
The 55-year-old former political adviser — who has needed 24-hour care after spending over a year in hospital with Covid from March 2020 until April 2021 — was first admitted to hospital in July having taken a turn for the worse.
ITV’s Good Morning Britain presenter Garraway took to Twitter at the weekend to thank well-wishers and responded to one, writing: “I think you give me too much credit but it means so much to know you are thinking of us all.”
The fan’s tweet read: “Simply said @kategarraway is the ultimate definition of an amazing loving #wife and #mother her strength love dedication and care towards her #husband Derek is awesome. Hugs from the whole country, we all wish your husband well.”
Garraway’s response continued: “Sending love to all those struggling this #sunday. Try to get some light on your face and air in your lungs and find a little moment of joy to treasure for yourself.”
The online exchange comes after Garraway won Best Documentary at the 2022 National Television Awards last Thursday.
Caring for Derek is her second successive win in the category and focuses on her husband’s health battle. It follows her first documentary, Finding Derek,
Garraway was supported at the ceremony in London by her and Draper’s 16-year-old daughter Darcey, who joined her on stage following her win. Their 13-year-old son Billy stayed at home.
She said: “Well I really didn’t expect this. So, the mercy of that is that this is going to be brief as I have very little prepared.
“I’ve got my daughter here, Darcey. Darcey represents all the family. We managed to speak to Derek, he is back in hospital at the moment, fighting on so incredibly. We’re hoping he is coming home again soon.”
She added: “I want to thank Derek for his incredible fighting spirit, we love you. I want to thank ITV for being so brave to put something which actually is touched in all the incredible documentaries, about care.
“We have a care crisis in our country, but we don’t have a crisis of love. The professional carers are extraordinary, the millions who care for who they love are extraordinary.
“And I think that’s probably why you voted for this, because you know it’s all of you. We all feel alone, we all need some care and love.
“So thank you so much, it means the world to all of those people. Thank you so much.”
Caring For Derek beat off stiff competition from Katie Price: What Harvey Did Next, Tom Parker: Inside My Head, Julia Bradbury: Breast Cancer and Me, and Paddy and Christine McGuinness: Our Family and Autism.
