Ben Shephard says Good Morning Britain co-host Kate Garraway is ‘finding comfort’ in talking to her husband every day as he continues to fight coronavirus COVID-19.
Derek Draper is understood to be in an unresponsive critical condition after being admitted to hospital with the deadly bug, which has so far claimed 257,301 lives, on March 30.
But devoted Kate is said to be phoning her husband, with whom she raises children Darcey, 14, and William, 10, on a daily basis while he remains on a ventilator in intensive care.
Reassurance: Ben Shephard says Good Morning Britain co-host Kate Garraway is ‘finding comfort’ in talking to her husband every day as he continues to fight coronavirus COVID-19
Talking to COVID-19 survivor Julie Stanfield, her daughter Gabrielle and the NHS staff who saved her life on Wednesday’s edition of GMB, Ben, 45, admitted his co-host had found a degree of reassurance in calling Derek.
He said: ‘One of our colleagues, Kate Garraway, has said that one of the things that has been really comforting for her is the fact that the staff are taking her phone in the evenings and she can talk to her husband.
‘She has no idea if he’s responding but it certainly gives her a sense of comfort and there is the hope that it is.’
Unresponsive: Derek Draper is understood to be in a critical condition after being admitted to hospital with the deadly bug, which has so far claimed 257,301 lives, on March 30
He added: ‘It is an incredibly touching and personal thing to do to take that phone and be there for the families of these patients.’
Kate recently shared a moving tribute to Derek after spending her first birthday in 16 years without him.
The Good Morning Britain presenter turned 53 on May 4th, and admitted it was a ‘tough one’ for her family as her spouse continues to fight for his life in hospital following his COVID-19 diagnosis.
Opening up: Talking to COVID-19 survivor Julie Stanfield, her daughter Gabrielle and the NHS staff who saved her life, Ben admitted his co-host had found a degree of reassurance in calling Derek
Kate resolved to stay positive and be grateful for the ‘joy of life’, thanking her friends and family for their kind gestures of support and gifts to make her day better.
Taking to Instagram, she wrote: ‘So yesterday was always going to be a tough one – 1st birthday in 16 years without Derek – so for the kids & I, his absence was very present.
‘But we resolved to do what I think we are all having to do at the moment aren’t we – treasure & be grateful for the love around us – however distanced we are from it .
Care: Devoted Kate is said to be phoning her husband, with whom she raises children Darcey, 14, and William, 10, on a daily basis while he remains on a ventilator in intensive care
‘And focus on the joy of life & love in the moment – the small things that are huge & really should be at the core of everyday but usually the everyday gets in the way.’
Kate accompanied her post with two pictures – a throwback snap of Derek in his younger years at university, and a picture of the birthday cake she received from her I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! campmate Roman Kemp.
She continued: ‘So THANK YOU so much for all your messages they mean such a lot, to the friends @itv who sent chocolate for the kids & uplifting smellies for me , to mates who dropped off food, posh teabags & milk & made me smile at silliness ( derek is a great believer in the healing power of silliness), to my amazing family, to derek’s friends who sent me messages of fun times they have had with him
Tough: The Good Morning Britain presenter turned 53 on May 4th, and she told Instagram followers t was a ‘tough one’ for her family as her spouse continues to fight for his life in hospital following his COVID-19 diagnosis
Missing her husband: Kate accompanied her post with two pictures – including a throwback snap of Derek in his younger years at university. She joked, ‘insert your own “ his taste in birds” joke here!)’
‘(pictured is when Derek was editing a student newspaper – insert your own “ his taste in birds” joke here!)
‘And the strangers who got this cake >>> from @romankemp & all at @global & worked out it was actually meant for me ( was it the bourbons that gave it away??!!) – THANK YOU all.
‘But most of all thank you to the NHS teams keeping derek still with us e& battling everyday to inch him toward recovery #hope #positivethinking #standtogether.’