Kate Garraway shares touching update about husband Derek Draper as she praises ‘inspiring’ carers for their vital work
KATE Garraway has once again thrown her support behind The Sun’s fantastic Who Cares Wins awards next month.
The Good Morning Britain presenter will join a plethora of stars at the event which rewards the work of health professionals and everyday heroes.
Kate, 55, is up for a National Television Award on Thursday for her second documentary about Covid-hit husband Derek Draper, Caring for Derek.
Here she explains why the role of carers is so important.
THERE’S not many things you can rely on in life, but one thing you can rely on is that at some point you will either need care, or have to give care to someone you love.
That is everybody reading this right now.
WHO CARES WINS
If you are lucky, then it will be just temporary and you will be able to get back on with your life, but for others it will be forever.
When I made my documentary Caring for Derek, I was overwhelmed by people saying ‘at last, at last, someone has spoken up for carers!’ -and they didn’t just mean professional carers either.
Don’t get me wrong, professionals are undoubtedly true heroes – underpaid, overwhelmed and don’t get anywhere near the respect they deserve.
But it was also another group that people were glad to see a light shined on.
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The unpaid, untrained carers who do it for the people they love, because often there is no choice.
We all clapped for carers with vigour during the pandemic because they were saving lives right before our very eyes.
But the trouble is, when the direct fear of life-or-death passes, this celebration gets quickly forgotten, but the caring goes on.
It’s not sexy or the stuff of movies, like pulling someone from a burning building or giving mouth to mouth, but it’s no less vital to life.
‘Honoured’
When Caring for Derek was nominated, I was of course very honoured but I had mixed feelings about asking people to vote for the film.
I was worried and guilty about asking for more support when so many have already sent their good wishes.
But now too many have got in touch saying ‘please shout it from the rooftops’ for me to ignore!
You see, I am one of the lucky ones. Not only did I pray every night for months when Derek’s life hung in the balance to have the chance to care for him, also I have supportive employers and family and friends to help.
Millions care day in day out alone.
Carers’ struggles
The charity Carers First just this week sent me a new report as part of their ‘Lighten the Load’ campaign, revealing that 93 per cent of carers aren’t sleeping, worried sick about paying for even the bare basics.
So many can’t work at all because their loved one needs them to survive.
Many have found their mental health severely affected – some contemplating suicide.
People now message me to say they feel forgotten in the economic crisis, and it’s for these people that a win at the NTA’s would mean so much – to feel recognised by the wider world.
It’s also why I want to praise the Sun for its Who Cares Wins Awards celebrating healthcare professionals and singling out everyday people.
Being heard matters when you feel you don’t have a voice.
I want to praise the Sun for its Who Cares Wins Awards celebrating healthcare professionals and singling out everyday people
Kate Garraway
Last year I was lucky enough to present the Best Nurse award to Jackie Brunton, who helped Covid patients say goodbye to loved ones at the Blackpool Victoria Hospital. But all the winners were incredible and I know they will be this year too.
Derek is back in hospital after developing sepsis that again threatened his life and we are again fighting to get him home.
But I remain constantly inspired by those around him – not just for their expertise but for their loving care.
On his birthday they wrote in a card, “We celebrate every day your braveness and strength to keep going through the pain, struggles and setbacks.”
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And then added, “But today on your birthday, we want to celebrate you, Derek, the man, not the trauma, but you as a person.”
That is care, to me, in its purest form – how wonderful if we as a society could value the importance of it as much as I know Derek and millions of others do every day.