Kate Garraway revealed hope husband Derek could finally spend Christmas at home just months before heart attack | The Sun
KATE Garraway revealed her Christmas plans with husband Derek Draper hoping he would finally be home for the festive season months before he suffered a serious heart attack.
The Good Morning Britain anchor, 56, was expecting the former Labour lobbyist, also 56, would be back at base for the first time in three years – in what she dubbed an "improvement" to his health.
Previously Derek was left fighting for his life after suffering Covid.
He is one of the UK's longest suffering patients of Covid, yet has since been battling a variety of health problems, after the virus caused brain inflammation, kidney failure, and damage to his liver and pancreas.
Yet sadly he has now been left fighting for his life following a heart attack.
Mum-of-two Kate has cancelled all TV and radio work to keep a 24-7 vigil, taking an indefinite leave of absence from presenting.
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Back in March, the popular ITV broadcaster outlined her Christmas season hopes in Walt Disney Travel Company’s podcast, Journey to the Magic.
She told host Giovanna Fletcher of her current family situation with Derek and, at the time, admitted: "They’re OK, they're good. It is challenging, he's still very, very damaged.
"He still can't really move, still can't really speak, still fed through tubes, and so there's a long road ahead.
“But if you compare to last Christmas or the Christmas before, when he was still in hospital then you can see improvement.
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"It's just, you just want it to be quicker and faster, of course, like everybody would.
“But it's a challenging one – he spent most of last year in the hospital as well for various different things."
Derek was taken dangerously ill last Monday.
Friends and family have been alerted to his worsening condition.
Last night, a source said: “Everyone is praying for a miracle.
“Derek suffered a massive heart attack earlier this week which has left him fighting for his life all over again.
“It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing so well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family.
“This setback has been a huge blow for his family and all the people caring for him.
"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.”
Last February, The Sun revealed the couple had secretly flown to Mexico for a ground-breaking medical trial.
Earlier today, Kate's Smooth radio co-star Jenni Falconer said Derek "wasn't in a good way" in a new health update.
Jenni said: "On behalf of everyone here at Smooth we’re sending lots of love and Smooth best wishes to our very own Kate Garraway.
"Kate’s husband Derek as we all know has been struggling with long-lasting damage since he suffered from Covid and it doesn’t look good at the moment, it doesn’t look like he’s in a good way.
"So we’re sending lots of love to Kate, Derek and the family… especially at this time of the year."
Additionally, Kate's GMB co-stars – including fellow show anchor Susanna Reid – have been quick to send the star their best wishes on social media.
Susanna wrote on X: "Sending all my love and strength to @kategarraway and Derek. Two of the strongest people I know [love heart]."
Meanwhile, on Monday's GMB, Charlotte Hawkins, Richard Madeley, Ranvir Singh and Dr Hilary Jones all paid tribute to the couple.
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Charlotte told viewers: "We wanted to start with an update. You have seen that Derek, Kate's husband, is sadly very poorly at the moment.
"We want to let Derek, Kate and the whole family know we are thinking of them, and that we're sending them our very best wishes."
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