18 December 2023 , 16:43
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Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway has revealed her husband Derek Draper had to be rushed to hospital after suffering a massive heart attack.
The former spin doctor had been looking forward to Christmas at home with his family but instead Kate has cancelled all presenting work while she keeps a vigil at her beloved husband's bedside. The brave mum has also had to prepare her children for a very different festive season as their father is so seriously ill.
Kate is desperately hoping that Derek will be home for Christmas as he receives the second part of his treatment in hospital after suffering a heart attack, which made him turn blue. A source close to the couple said: "Derek suffered a massive heart attack which has left him fighting for his life all over again. "
They added: "It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family. We just hope there will be some more positive news soon as he has been in such a long and tough battle with his health. Kate’s only focus right now is Derek and her family.”
Kate has been caring for Derek at home (ITV)Derek was struck down with Covid back in 2020 and spent more than 200 days in hospital before being able to return to the North London home he shares with Kate and their children. Since then, Kate has highlighted the plight of those suffering with long Covid in two critically acclaimed documentaries, which she also fronted.
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
Derek said his heartbreaking first word 214 days after his battle with coronavirus begun. The Good Morning Britain presenter was watching from home over FaceTime as doctors tended to Derek in hospital and he mouthed the word "pain". It was the first word Derek, 53, has uttered since March 2020.
Kate told The Sun: "It’s a case of trying to balance belief, hope, optimism with reality. But we have had a breakthrough which was both amazing yet heartbreaking. It happened when the nurses were moving Derek, as part of his treatment, to trigger the sensation of gravity because he's been horizontal for so long."
Derek's tracheotomy tube has been removed and he is now able to breathe without a ventilator, but sadly, it seems Derek is still in a lot of pain.
Doctors were moving his body around to prevent him from seizing up when he said the word. Kate said that right from the beginning of his battle against Covid-19, doctors and nurses have spoken to Derek in a respectful way while caring for him, even when he was unable to open his eyes.
They were hoping all along that they could trigger a response. And she said that this time around, they had been doing the same thing, not really expecting a response, but then he suddenly mouthed the word "pain". The presenter, who shares kids Darcey and Billy, with Derek, said she was in tears when it happened, and that the hospital staff who've been caring for him were overcome with emotion too.
She added: "It breaks my heart that there may have been times that he’s been in terrible pain and wasn’t able to communicate it." The star is determined to have all the in-laws over at the couple's north London home so the family are able to spend quality time with Derek, who is unable to travel. Kate added that she will be hosting during a week of festivities along with her parents Marilyn and Gordon.
She added: "We’ll just get as much of the family, the Drapers and the Garraways, together – even if it’s not all on one day. We’re treating it as a four or five-day season this year, so I’m going to be doing a lot of cooking. My mum and dad have already sorted the turkey from a farm where they live."
The family were left devastated in 2020 after Derek fell seriously ill and the presenter has done her best to keep fans updated. Unfortunately, due to his rare condition, Derek is not always fully present as his mind has turned against him, becoming his enemy. Speaking on on new podcast Emotionally Speaking with host Peter Leonard, she said: "He is living in the world of the unknown, when he wakes up in the morning it is heartbreaking because it feels as though you are watching someone who may have been inhabiting his old life in his dreams and then he wakes up and you see the cloud descend of the battle he has ahead."