Kate’s pal Clare: “Uncertainty eats her alive, but she’s keeping the kids positive”
Kate Garraway’s husband Derek has been in hospital for seven months battling COVID-19 – making him the longest surviving patient in the UK. Here, TV presenter Clare Nasir reveals how her close friend is staying so inspirationally strong
She’s put on a brave face since husband Derek was rushed to hospital with coronavirus in March but, last week, Kate Garraway broke down as she revealed he’d finally said his first word as he continues to fight for his life.
Good Morning Britain star Kate, 53, said Derek, also 53, had mouthed the word “pain” to doctors and that it was a “huge breakthrough” for her family – albeit a bittersweet one.
She told GMB presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid, “It’s a huge breakthrough because even though it’s obviously heartbreaking that he feels pain – which we don’t want – it is a breakthrough because what it means is he has been able to connect a sensation in his body with his brain and connect that to his mouth to say the word ‘pain’.
“That says a lot, doesn’t it? I’ve said before, ‘Is he there, is he locked in?’ I believe he is in there. It’s a long way from... the love and feelings he has, but it’s a start.”
INCREDIBLE RESILIENCE
As England entered a second lockdown, the mum-of-two – who shares children Darcey, 14, and Billy, 11, with Derek – went on to reveal the practical difficulties that she faces while he’s in hospital, as bank accounts and insurance policies are in his name.
But despite Kate’s challenges, her friend, weather presenter Clare Nasir, tells Closer that her incredible resilience will see her though her darkest moments.
Clare, 50, says, “Kate is a warrior and she’ll do what she has to do to get through this. We’ve reported on some of the worst flooding in the UK and she’s the person who’ll wade into the floodwater and say, ‘This is how bad it is’.
“This is someone who isn’t fazed by interviewing the Prime Minister or victims of child abuse, because she can relate to everybody and has the mental capacity to cope. She’s incredibly resilient. Some people would’ve crumbled by now, but this is going to make her stronger.”
And she says Kate’s fiercely practical approach – teamed with husband Derek’s love of “silliness” and desire to see the funny side – has helped her cope.
DEFYING THE ODDS
Referring to Kate’s news last week that the family car had been stolen from outside their home, Clare says, “With the car being stolen, she was like, ‘Really?!’ She was laughing through her anxiety and shaking her head in absolute disbelief. But then she went, ‘Right, OK, let’s sort this out.’ She’s defied all the odds.”
Former political lobbyist and psychotherapist Derek was admitted to hospital with COVID-19 in March and put into intensive care days later, where he remains in a critical condition. Doctors are still uncertain as to whether Derek – who has lost 8st during his battle and almost died six times after his organs failed – will ever fully recover, but Kate remains positive for the sake of their children. The family have been unable to visit him due to restrictions and have had to keep a check on him via FaceTime.
Clare – who’s been best friends with Kate since they lived together in the ’90s, and who made Kate Godmother to her children – says, “Her priority is to keep her kids’ lives as normal as possible. The uncertainty eats her alive, but she doesn’t want that to transition to them. She’s doing an amazing job of keeping them buoyant and positive. They’re doing amazingly well – they all have that inner Garraway strength, which has sustained Kate over so many months.”
Kate and Derek – who met in 2004 after being set up by a mutual friend – had initially planned to renew their wedding vows this summer to mark their 15th wedding anniversary. Instead, Kate has had to step into her husband’s shoes by becoming “Mum and Dad”.
SPIRITUALITY
Clare says, “They’re an amazing team and Derek has a very strong personality – when he’s not there, you’ll notice. But Kate has made up for it. She’s Mum and Dad. And Derek is hanging on, when so many have tragically died.”
With Christmas around the corner, Clare says Kate prefers to take it one day at a time.
“I spoke to her about what she’ll do for Christmas and she just shook her head and said, ‘I have no idea.’ It breaks my heart,”
Clare reveals. “There are so many unknowns, so much uncertainty... how can she plan? The most important thing is that the kids have a really amazing day under the circumstances. God knows how she’s going to pull it off, but she will.”
In the meantime, Kate has discovered ways to help ease her anxiety.
Clare explains, “She’s a keen gardener, and over the summer it was so lovely to see what she’d been doing to try to focus her mind and process everything. Her spiritual side has certainly flourished, too – I’ve been doing a Chakra with her. She said she’ll try anything, and it made her laugh – all the waving your arms about and chanting.
“Lockdown in the winter is a different beast, but she’s gone above and beyond what most people could cope with and she’s doing it valiantly.
“She never wanted to be in this position, but she’s become an ambassador for any victim of COVID-19. She gets it, she’s on the front line and she’s powering through.”
‘Kate is a warrior – she’ll do what she has to do’