‘It was heightened emotions as he’s very changed’: Kate Garraway reveals her children got to visit her husband Derek for the first time since he was hospitalised amid COVID-19 battle
- The presenter, 53, revealed she’d had a ‘tough’ Christmas without Derek as he continues to recover from coronavirus in hospital
- Kate did reveal her two children Darcey, 14, and Billy, 11 were able to visit Derek for the first time since he was admitted to hospital 10 months ago
- She also revealed that due to England’s lockdown she’s now unable to see her husband, as he continues his lengthy recovery
- Derek remains in critical condition but has made minor improvements since he was first admitted to hospital in March
Kate Garraway has revealed her two children finally got to visit their father Derek in hospital after 10 months recovering from COVID-19.
The presenter, 53, admitted the family reunion was ‘heightened with emotion’ as her daughter Darcey, 14, and son Billy, 11, saw how Derek was ‘very changed’ by his battle with the virus, after spending a ‘tough’ Christmas without him.
Kate also revealed that due to the government’s new lockdown she’s now banned from visiting her husband, saying she hopes it won’t continue as her absence could be ‘very impactful’ on Derek’s slow recovery.
Speaking on Thursday’s Good Morning Britain, Kate reflecting on her first Christmas without Derek, telling Ben Shephard: ‘It was tough. I knew it was going to be tough. ‘There was a lovely moment which we did have.
At last: Kate Garraway has revealed her two children finally got to visit their father Derek in hospital after 10 months recovering from COVID-19
‘We did get to see Derek and the children did, which is the first time they’ve been able to do that. So that was amazing.’
Kate admitted it came as a shock to her two children seeing Derek for the first time in almost 10 months, as he looked very different to when he was first admitted.
She continued: ‘It was very heightened with emotion, because he’s very changed.
‘So all the routines that we’d normally do, it was one of those moments that it was so wonderful but also it amplified how sad everything was. And how different it is.
‘But it was still fantastic, and we’re very grateful to have had that opportunity.’
Difficult: The presenter admitted the reunion was ‘heightened with emotion’ as her daughter Darcey, 14, and son Billy, 11, saw how Derek was ‘very changed’ by his battle with the virus (pictured in December 2019)
Kate went onto reveal she’s now unable to see Derek due to new restrictions introduced during the third lockdown, which bans any visitors on the COVID-19 ward where he is recovering.
She told Ben: ‘And then instantly, now I’m in a position where even I can’t visit.
‘We’re into lockdown so no visits at all, which I hope doesn’t continue for the whole of lockdown, because I think that will be very impactful on Derek’s state.’
Derek remains in critical condition but has made minor improvements since he was first admitted to hospital in March. He managed to utter the word ‘pain’ in October, which marked the first time he had spoken following his medical coma.
Tough: Kate went onto reveal she’s now unable to see Derek due to new restrictions introduced during the third lockdown
Concerned: She said: ”We’re into lockdown so no visits at all, which I hope doesn’t continue for the whole of lockdown, because I think that will be very impactful on Derek’s state’
While Derek continues to recover away from home, Kate said she has been trying to be ‘both mum and dad’ to their two children.
The family had been unable to visit Derek in hospital due to coronavirus restrictions, but the mother-of-two previously said that nurses kindly allowed her to FaceTime him.
On New Year’s Eve, Kate admitted she had a ‘calamitous’ Christmas without her husband during which her house was flooded and she was unable to get a supermarket delivery slot.
Wishing her followers a Happy New Year, Kate wrote on it was ‘the last day of a year few will be sorry to see the back of.’
Scary: Kate returned to Good Morning Britain following her festive break, after admitting on New Year’s Eve she’d had a ‘calamitous’ Christmas
Not very festive: Writing alongside a photo of her Christmas tree in an Instagram post, the mother of two reflected on spending the festive season without Derek
Challenging: While Derek continues to recover away from home, Kate said she has been trying to be ‘both mum and dad’ to their two children (pictured in 2018)
Hopeful: Kate previously expressed her hopes of forming a bubble with Derek and the family over Christmas, but Tier 4 restrictions may have limited the option
Explaining her absence from social media, she continued: ‘Have been quiet for a while – getting through Christmas has been a challenge hasn’t it with all the emotions it stirs in our strange world & no where really to put them – except in hope.’
‘And there is still so much real hope out there. Not just in the extraordinary health care workers & researchers who definitely hold a bright light for the future. But in all the little kindnesses.’
‘We had a calamitous few days in the run up to Christmas – but we got through thanks to some wonderful people,’ she explained.
Kate went on to thank those who had helped her and her two children Darcey, 14, and Billy, 11.
‘The guys from @bondconstruction who literally got on their hands & knees with me to bucket out water after we had 2 pipe leaks that flooded our home,’ she wrote.
Cosy: Following her GMB appearance, Kate was seen heading to Global Radio in London to present her mid-morning show on Smooth FM
Wrapped up: The broadcaster opted for a camel trench coat and a Burberry scarf as she wheeled her suitcase into the studio
Safety first! Kate ensured she donned a protective face mask as she headed into the studio to present the programme
Happy: She has put on a brave face in recent months while her husband Derek recovers from COVID-19 in hospital
Beaming: Kate managed to flash a smile as she headed into the studio
Kate also thanked fellow TV presenter and friend Emma Willis and Marks and Spencer ‘who made sure we had #gorgeousfood for our Christmas dinner when I couldn’t get a delivery slot anywhere & the guys from @britishgas who spent hours on the phone helping me to get a fridge & freezer to put the food in.’
After previously revealing her WiFi had broken in the run up to Christmas, Kate wrote that Sky had finally helped her fix the problem.
‘The guys from @skyhelp who talked me through getting our WiFi & tv working on Xmas eve. Your kindness & spirit is overwhelming . And all @itv & @global for their constant support.
‘Sending love & virtual hugs to all of you who have sent messages – spreading the love is what will give us all a truly happy new year,’ the star ended her reflective post.
Heading out: She has continued to present Good Morning Britain, and returned to her Smooth Radio show last year while Derek recovers
Slowly: Derek remains in critical condition but has made minor improvements since he was first admitted to hospital in March (he is pictured with Kate in December 2019)
Kate previously expressed her hopes of forming a bubble with Derek and the family over Christmas, but the new Tier 4 precautions in London may have delayed any close contact with her husband once more.
The star also admitted she felt ‘physically sick’ at the prospect of spending her first Christmas without Derek since their eldest daughter Darcey was born.
‘I feel physically sick actually and can feel my chest tightening at the thought of it,’ Kate said.
‘I’m in total panic about the idea of me, Darcey and Billy on our own this Christmas unable to visit Derek because of potential restrictions.
‘That huge emotional hole, and I don’t know how to fill it, without grandparents and without friends helping to fill it.
‘It feels like such a significant moment as all festivals are. I do feel in a panic about it, but we’re in this situation because of the spread of a disease that at the moment doesn’t have a cure.’
A timeline of Derek’s coronavirus battle
MARCH
Kate revealed she and Prince Charles had got ‘relatively close’ at the Prince’s Trust Awards on March 11 – Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-March.
She said: ‘Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said [to Derek] ‘god you look ill.’
‘He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe,
‘I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance’
Derek, 52, was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition.
APRIL
Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed ‘mild symptoms’.
Kate said: ‘Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I’m afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time.
‘I’m afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.’
MAY
Kate said: ‘The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight.
‘But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.’
That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers
She said: ‘I’ll never give up on that because Derek’s the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty’
JUNE
On June 5, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body
JULY
On July 5, Kate revealed Derek has woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition.
On July 8, she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to ‘get on with life’ during Derek’s recovery.
She added that Derek had ‘opened his eyes’ after waking from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years.
On July 13, Kate returned to GMB for the first time since Derek was hospitalised.
On July 28, Kate revealed she’d paid an ‘extra emotional’ first visit to Derek, and admitted she’s ‘frustrated’ by his slow progress.
AUGUST
On August 14, Kate reassured GMB viewers that Derek was ‘still with us,’ but it was ‘a waiting game.’
On August 19, Kate revealed she celebrated Derek’s birthday with their two children, and described the day as ‘challenging’ for her family.
SEPTEMBER
At the end of September, Derek reportedly becomes the longest surviving patient with coronavirus after spending 184 days in and out of intensive care.
Kate reveals Derek has lost eight stone during his battle.
The presenter announces she is returning to her Smooth Radio show so Derek can hear her voice.
OCTOBER
On October 30 Kate reveals that Derek has spoken for the first time in seven months, saying the word ‘pain’ to his wife, who watched on ‘in tears’ over FaceTime.
Kate says a day later that her husband no longer needs a ventilator to breathe.
NOVEMBER
Kate reveals her family car has been stolen in latest ‘body blow’ to her family life, as kind-hearted fans offer their cars to help.
She says she feels ‘physically sick’ at the prospect of facing her first Christmas without Derek.
DECEMBER
The GMB star tells viewers it is her dream to visit Derek on Christmas Day.
She also reveals she missed two weeks on GMB after her children were exposed to the virus, but thankfully she and the kids tested negative.
On December 17, Kate has an emotional conversation live on GMB with two nurses who treated Derek when he was first admitted to Whittington Hospital in North London.
On New Year’s Eve she reflects on a ‘calamitous’ Christmas without Derek, as her house was flooded and she struggled to get a food delivery slot until her pal Emma Willis stepped in to help.
JANUARY
Kate reveals she and her children got to visit Derek in hospital over the Christmas period, and it was the first time her family had seen him since he was hospitalised.
She also says she’s banned from seeing home due to new restrictions introduced during the government’s third lockdown.
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