Kate Garraway reveals Derek still can’t talk but calls kids ‘my heroes’ for ‘knowing how to communicate with him’
KATE Garraway has revealed her husband Derek Draper is still unable to talk, nearly a month after returning home from hospital.
The TV presenter, 53, praised her children Darcey, 15, and Billy, 11, for adapting so well to their dad being back as he continues to recover from the effects of Covid – calling them her “heroes”.
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Speaking on Radio 2 to Zoe Ball this morning, she explained how the kids have found his return after a year of him being in intensive care.
She said: “He isn’t really able to speak at the moment so he can’t tell him off, I have to be the bad guy!
“They are besides themselves to have him home. They are my heroes.
“They know instinctively how to talk to him but not ask too much from him. In a way that grownups want to see the old Derek, they have an instinct, there is a lot of love there.”
During the chat, Kate discussed how the last few weeks have been with Derek – admitting it’s taken some adjustment.
She said: “It feels like yesterday, I am still in a whirlwind.
“He’s doing amazingly. The moment he came through the door was euphoric and since then we have been adjusting to Derek’s new normal and the hope is he will be able to progress.”
“At the moment he needs everything doing for him. It’s 24 hour care. Just looking for the little moment… the big aim is that bringing home into that environment will help to raise his conscious and make him more aware and lift him out basically the disordered conscious and effects of Covid.”
Kate previously revealed he has been taken off all machines, but his body had been ravaged by the virus.
Doctors reported that he had been “universally affected” — meaning his lungs, heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas had all been hit by Covid.
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And, at his worst, hospital staff feared Derek may remain in a semi-vegetative state forever.
The Sun revealed that Kate — who has bravely continued working throughout much of her husband’s illness — has spent thousands of pounds adapting their home for his return.