Kate Garraway is preparing kids for heartbreaking Christmas as husband Derek Draper fights for his life
KATE Garraway is preparing her kids for a heartbreaking Christmas as her husband fights for his life.
Derek Draper, 56, was struck down with Covid in 2020, had a huge heart attack last Monday.
Brave Kate has cancelled all TV and radio work to keep a 24-7 vigil, taking an indefinite leave of absence from presenting.
Family and Friends say Derek had been "looking forward to Christmas at home with the family".
But now Kate is being forced to prepare their children for a less merry festive season.
A source told The Sun: “This setback has been a huge blow for his family and all the people caring for him.
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"Kate is by his side 24 hours a day and is willing him on to win this latest battle for his life.
“Derek has fought so many times, and always, against all odds, come out the other side.
“Kate has been utterly incredible — by his side while being an amazing mum to Darcey and Billy, and trying to manage their expectations of a family Christmas.”
Derek was first rushed to hospital with Covid in March 2020.
After falling into a coma and being put on a ventilator, he spent 13 months in hospital — making him Britain’s longest suffering coronavirus victim.
He has since battled a variety of health problems. The virus caused brain inflammation, kidney failure, and liver and pancreas damage.
One brain scan last year showed white patches, usually seen in patients with vascular dementia.
He has undergone a series of inconclusive lung tests and still has difficulty breathing unaided.
After moving back to the family’s North London home, Kate was forced to spend thousands adapting it to accommodate her ailing husband.
She has also had to pay for round-the-clock carers and physios.
Derek — whose days have largely been filled with appointments, hospital trips and sleeping — has been the subject of two critically acclaimed documentaries fronted by Kate.
In them, it emerged she survives on around four hours of sleep, often getting up every two hours at night to help the carer move Derek.
She washes and changes his bed linen at least seven times a day.
Last February, The Sun revealed the couple had secretly flown to Mexico for a ground-breaking medical trial.
Kate accompanied him on the 16-hour, 11,000-mile trip after a world-renowned doctor contacted her after seeing former spin doctor Derek’s plight on TV.
He had two further trips to the specialist clinic in a last ditch bid to help him lead a normal life.
After Derek was rendered unable to speak, Kate also revealed her husband’s first word was “pain”.
In June, Kate was awarded an MBE. Derek was at Windsor Castle when she was given the award by Prince William for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity.
But just days later, Kate revealed Derek was rushed to hospital after the happy occasion.
Meanwhile, social care campaigners have backed her after she revealed she was “battling the system” to secure essential care for Derek. She feared losing the support he needed.
In March, Kate detailed the ongoing pain Derek suffers.
She said: “Derek is trapped, but he fights on. We cling on to the good days. Every day is a rollercoaster. His spirit fluctuates.
“Sometimes he lies there, unable to move, with tears rolling down his face and it is heart-breaking. But if it’s hard for us, I cannot imagine how hard it must be for him.”
Kate’s spokesman confirmed: “Derek has been taken very seriously ill this week.
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"He is a fighter and we are all praying for him to win this latest battle.”