Kate Garraway jets off to Disneyland Paris on first family holiday since husband Derek’s illness

Kate Garraway has taken her children to Disneyland Paris, which is their first family vacation since her husband, Derek Draper, fell seriously ill.

The Good Morning Britain star has cared for Derek, both 55, since he fell ill with Long Covid in 2020 after falling seriously ill with the virus at the start of the pandemic.

Derek fought for his life after contracting the virus in March 2020. He was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance where he was placed on a ventilator and in an induced coma.

Kate revealed that the family’s goal was to go back to the amusement park with Derek, after the last visit before he got sick, but found out on the morning of the trip that he couldn’t come.

Speaking to Giovanna Fletcher on the Journey to the Magic podcast, she said: “But we went back there with the kids and I was lucky enough to go with my best friend Vicky and it was just amazing, so it’s a special place.” ‘

Kate added: “I remember as we were heading back to get on the train under the tunnel, we went to a pharmacy to buy some paracetamol or something and everywhere in French it said ‘no masks, all sold out’.”

“I remember Derek and I were like, ‘God, they’re taking this very seriously here,’ and then we came back and it was literally like two or three weeks later, Derek got sick and that was the last thing we did.” together.’

Kate then touched on Derek’s health issues: “He’s still very, very damaged. He still can’t really move, he still can’t really talk, he’s still fed through tubes, so there’s a long road ahead. .

In March 2020, Derek was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance where he was placed on a ventilator and placed in an induced coma.

As a result of lockdown rules during the pandemic, Kate and the couple’s two children, Darcey, 16, and Billy, 13, were unable to visit him while he received treatment.

13 months later, Derek was finally allowed to go home.

However, after the long period of hospitalization, his body was ravaged by various disabling conditions and he now remains confined to a bed and a wheelchair.

While Derek’s chance of long-term recovery is not yet known, the “utter devastation” to his body is undeniable.

Kate recently revealed that she is taking her husband Derek Draper to Mexico for a second experimental treatment in a desperate bid to save him from the devastating effects of Covid.

Following a previously ‘exhausting’ trip to Mexico in early 2022, Kate hopes to take Derek back for a further round of treatment.

Kate told The Sun: “The effort required to get him there is extraordinary, and we are obviously relying on the grace of these specialists to help him.”

“I cannot thank everyone involved in bringing him to Mexico enough because without them he would not have the opportunity for this potentially life-changing treatment.”

He added: “The plan is to return for another round of treatment and continue the trial in a way that is economically viable.”

He became the UK’s longest-suffering coronavirus patient after spending 13 months in hospital, along with Kate and their two children: Darcey, 16, and Billy, 13.

Although Kate insisted they had received “wonderful treatment” from the NHS, which was essential in keeping her husband alive, the trips abroad offer “treatment that can save their lives”.

In addition to the trip, the Smooth Radio presenter has had to spend ‘tens of thousands of pounds’ fitting out the family’s London home for Derek, which included installing ramps, a ground-floor bathroom and a makeshift bedroom upstairs. Downstairs.

Due to the severity of his illness and the time he has spent in the hospital, he is still unable to walk and has developed debilitating symptoms.

In the summer of last year, Derek developed sepsis and was rushed back to the hospital, where the serious condition nearly killed him.

Speaking about his current condition and caring for him, he told The Sun: “There are some days where he literally can’t do anything and it’s like the computer is off.” He can’t move, and it hurts so much that we’re manipulating him, trying to get him to move more so he doesn’t back down.’

The host noted that despite Derek’s insistence that they continue, she says it’s “unbearable” to see him suffer, admitting that it makes her “emotional” just talking about it.

However, she added: “It also makes me fall in love with him all over again because of that spirit, that determination to keep going.” Derek is trapped, but continues to fight. We hold on to the good days.

Reflecting on the ups and downs of caring for her husband, Kate commented that every day is a ‘roller coaster’ as Derek’s spirit ‘fluctuates’.

The journalist added that it is “heartbreaking” to see her husband of 18 years unable to move with tears streaming down his face, noting how “difficult” it is for them, she “cannot imagine” how difficult it is for them. Derek.

Meanwhile, Kate has opened up about the astronomical costs of Derek’s care, adding that it is self-funded and insisting that they have not received any “special treatment” from the NHS or “waitlisted” due to their celebrity status.

She said: ‘Of course it’s been difficult financially. As anyone with a seriously ill loved one knows, costs skyrocket in many ways. You have to make changes to your home and that affects your ability to work. I had to take long periods off when Derek first got sick and of course that affects the overall income of the family as he can’t work anymore.’

She went on to say that she had to shut down the business that she and Derek had together, and had to hire assistants to take care of Derek while she did her television work.