Kate Garraway has vowed to "never give up" on her husband Derek Draper, who she admitted is in a "terrible state" following his near-fatal battle with COVID-19.
Kate Garraway reveals husband Derek Draper is still in a 'terrible state'
There wasn't a dry eye in the room when the 54-year-old 'Good Morning Britain' presenter appeared on Piers Morgan's last ever episode of 'Piers Morgan's Life Stories' on ITV on Sunday (05.12.21).
The broadcaster interviewed his friend Kate, who is set to take over as host of the programme, and she spoke at great length about her 53-year-old spouse's devasting experience of coronavirus, which landed him in intensive care, where he was placed in a medically-induced coma.
Derek was finally allowed to return to their family home in North London in April, after more than a year in hospital, and Kate shared how he still "can't communicate" or move about.
She told Piers: "His digestive system, his liver, his kidneys, his heart, his nervous system. We're pretty sure that the inflammation did pass through the brain.
"He still can't communicate; he still has issues with mobility.
"Fundamentally, he's in a terrible state. Look, he's alive."
Despite the neurological impact, Derek managed to thank the carers who looked after him around the clock, and has told his wife how "proud" he is of her, even picking out and writing in a card that said just that.
And Kate admitted: "It's moments like that that make you realise that he is in there.
"And we've had others - he will turn to me and say, 'I love you.'
"He's fought so hard to stay in this world and I'm not giving up on him ever. He will have moments of clarity and it's like he disappears again."
The journalist was joined by their two children - Darcey, 15, and William, 12 - in the audience, who paid touching tributes to their mother, while Kate's father had her in tears when he hailed her for her strength.
He told her as he struggled to hold back the tears himself: "[You are] always so strong, whatever you’re facing.
"You amaze us all the time with the way that you show your strength. You’re not going to be defeated. I think this is an inspiration for everybody."
And Kate replied: "Well, that’s really done it for me, dad.
"Oh my God I never see my dad so emotional as well. Sorry dad."
Elsewhere, Kate admitted that while there have been many "moments of joy" between their children and their father, she feels "lonely" because she can't talk to Derek like she used to.
She said: "There have been lots of moments of joy, moments with the children where he knows what they are saying.
"But there is no way of knowing what the future is going to hold.
"The strange thing is I want him there and want him back but some days his presence reminds me of the absence.
"I feel lonely and want to talk to Derek because he is there but he can't be there in the same way."
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