Kate Garraway has shared a message of “hope” and “new beginnings” on Instagram, as she comes to terms with the death of her beloved husband Derek Draper.
The presenter, 56, celebrated Easter Sunday by thanking those who are working, as she spent quality time with her two children while also working.
In a message to her 1.2 million followers, the Good Morning Britain presenter wrote: ‘Happy Easter everyone! We usually have a mega family egg hunt at my Aunt Lynne’s house, but this year I’m actually working, albeit in a spectacular location, and I’ve brought the kids with me so hard I’ll call it work.
‘I’m so grateful to be able to have this time and I send love to everyone who works in less glamorous places today, keeping the wheels turning for the rest of us.
‘I hope you find some joy and new hope today and every day xxx #hope. #New starts. #love.’
Kate Garraway shared a message of “hope” and “new beginnings” on Instagram on Sunday as she comes to terms with the death of her beloved husband Derek Draper.
The former political lobbyist died in January at age 56 after battling a series of health problems after coming into contact with Covid-19.
It comes after Kate choked back tears on GMB last week as she movingly told how she didn’t want to give up as she spoke about the crippling debt hell caring for her late husband had caused her.
She said she felt embarrassed about being “completely broke” after having to pay £16,000 a month in care bills, as she acknowledged her “well-paid” job at ITV was not enough to cover the cost.
Speaking on GMB last week, ahead of the release of Kate Garraway: Derek’s Story, which chronicles the final year of Draper’s life, she spoke emotionally of her fight to change the social care system after receiving thousands of letters of support .
Kate, visibly emotional, fought back tears as she said: “I’m sad that I no longer have the opportunity to care, but it felt wrong to walk away from the solidarity campaign for which I felt I had a responsibility.” I have received 8,000 letters from people saying “please don’t give up”… because we need this (the system) to change.
“If anything can be done, it will be a wonderful legacy for Derek.”
In a preview of the ITV documentary, Kate revealed she had racked up a mountain of debt when she was told Derek was not sick enough to qualify for funded care and warned the system was on the brink of collapse.
The former political lobbyist died in January at age 56.
He also spoke of the agony of hearing Derek scream in frustration and how he felt like a complete burden in his last months of life.
The presenter, 56, marked Easter Sunday by thanking those who are working while spending quality time with her two children, Darcey, 18, and Billy, 14, while also working.
She wrote: ‘Happy Easter everyone! Normally we do a mega family egg hunt, but this year I’m working, albeit in a spectacular location and I’ve brought the kids with me. I hope you find some joy and new hope today and every day.
Kate spoke on Good Morning Britain last week about her crushing debt bill for caring for her late husband.
The presenter had to pay £16,000 a month in care bills as she admitted her “well-paid” job at ITV was not enough to cover the cost, leaving her with a huge debt.
Kate told Richard Madeley and Susanna Reid this morning: “It’s horrible, it’s actually hard to watch now as I want to get up on the TV screen and say ‘stop it because they’re going to take your life because of the damage caused by Covid.'” .”
‘One of the biggest frustrations (for Derek) was the complete loss of purpose. He felt like a total failure and felt an incredible burden on the caregivers, on the system, on us and it didn’t matter what we said. “He felt that burden.”
Kate said the documentary was Derek’s way of saying, “I’m going to speak out for the people who have supported me.”
Speaking about her shame over debt, she said: “I’m a little embarrassed that I’m in debt because I have an amazing job that I love and it pays very well.” I am not a caregiver who travels miles paying my own transportation to help someone. I’m a person who earns very well and I’m ashamed that I couldn’t make it work.’
Joining Derek and Kate in May 2023, the film confronts the reality of Derek’s struggles and the effect on those around him, while also capturing sweet moments spent with family and never-before-seen images and footage.
In scenes from the upcoming documentary, Kate talks about the financial constraints she has faced with Derek, who required 24-hour care before his death.
Faced with debt of up to £800,000, Kate confessed: ‘Derek’s care costs more than my ITV salary and that’s before paying a mortgage or household bills or anything for the children, so that’s a critical point. “.
“We rely entirely on amazing caregivers, but the system they work for is incredibly complicated and underfunded…
“Why do people get sick and it’s no longer considered okay for them to be in the hospital? Why is coming home like falling off a cliff?”
Kate’s late husband was plagued with health problems after contracting Covid in March 2020, which left him in a coma, battling sepsis and struggling to communicate.
Derek’s story shows him speaking on camera for the first time since his health battle and he admitted: “I want to be heard.”
Derek had been plagued with health problems after contracting the virus in March 2020, which left him in a coma, battling sepsis and struggling to communicate (pictured in 2019).
Kate has opened up about the crippling debt she accrued while caring for her husband Derek Draper, admitting she is at a “critical point”.
His limitations and need for care were evident in the documentary, with the father-of-two breaking down in tears as he attempted to get onto a walker with the help of his mobility therapist.
Unable to get up, Derek burst into tears and labeled himself “pathetic” in heartbreaking scenes.
Kate tried to comfort him, insisting that “it’s not pathetic, you’re absolutely trying” and the tension on her face was also evident.
In one sweet moment, Kate tasked Derek with opening some of her birthday cards and reading the messages to her, but even that simple action left Derek in need of a break.
While Derek admitted he could feel an improvement in his health and his son Billy said he could “see the difference”, Kate confessed she couldn’t let herself think about what this meant in the future.
She explained: “I don’t look into the future because every time I feel like this is really fantastic and we’ve had amazing times, something terrible has happened.”
Kate opened up about her heartbreak over Derek himself, sharing, “The tragedy for me is that I feel like his brain was his best friend and now it’s his worst enemy.”
Detailing a rough patch he was going through, he explained: “He’s been very depressed.
‘Wondering about the future and crying a lot. “I have disappointed everyone and what is the meaning of life? What can I contribute?”
“What helps is having that sense of purpose, reminding you that these things take time even if I really don’t know if that’s the answer.”
Kate also offered a heartbreakingly honest account of how Derek’s condition had impacted their 19-year marriage.
Admitting that there are times when she doesn’t “feel” this from her husband, Kate added: “I’m trying to figure out if I feel loved by him.”
“I know, but we have quite a trip there.”
Former Labor pundit and psychotherapist Derek married presenter Kate in 2005 and they later welcomed children Darcey, 18, and Billy, 14.
In 2021, just over a year after contracting Covid, he was able to leave hospital and return to his family home in north London, with 24-hour care.
In August 2022 he was taken to the hospital with sepsis, but he pulled through. Then, in early December 2023, Derek suffered a heart attack and was taken to the hospital again.
Tragically, he couldn’t get over the latest medical emergency and on January 5 Kate confirmed that Derek had died.
In a social media post, she said her husband died surrounded by family and that she was “holding his hand for the last long hours.”