Kate Garraway explains breakthrough moment with husband Derek in his recovery

Virgin Radio

5 May 2021, 15:38

Kate Garraway and her husband Derek have been through hell this last year, since Derek became ill with Covid. 

The beloved TV presenter shared a moment that took place on her birthday, that was a "massive" deal in Derek's recovery. 

Kate has been sharing the battle the family have been through, since Derek Draper was hospitalised with the virus.

She recently shared the good news that he returned home at last.

Appearing on the Lorraine show this morning, Kate talked about "emotional" moment that happened earlier that day.

"I would say miraculous, but I don't want to bandy that word around too much," she began.

"At the moment, the family and I are looking for lots of little things with Derek. He's home, we can hug him, that's a miracle in itself. And then we're looking for little bits of him to come more out of the consciousness to come more back to us.

Katie continued: 'Last night I said to him when I was tucking him in and we were doing various medical bits, I said, 'oh by the way it's my birthday tomorrow.'

"He looked a bit worried, and I said, 'oh look don't worry I'm not expecting anything, my birthday present is you being home, and I'm going to pop in and see you before I go early off to '.

"So I came in this morning and said, 'right I'm all ready,' and my mum and dad are there and of course the nurses are there, and I said, 'I'm off to , is there anything you want to say to me?' And he said, 'oh, happy birthday.'.

"It makes me feel a bit emotional actually, but it's happy tears.'

'Not to be technical about it, I sound like I'm analysing everything, but that is massive, obviously it's wonderful that he says happy birthday, because that's what I want to hear.

"But also, we're looking for things he can hold. I told him that the night before, I had to prompt him a little bit, but he held that idea that it was my birthday and then managed to connect it back and repeat it out. And that's wonderful. Signs like that are just fantastic."

Kate also remembered how one of the nurses told her that Derek had spoken for the first time.

He also said that their son "smelled of Monster Munch".

 Kate joked it was "not quite the profound thing you hope".