Kate Garraway revealed her husband Derek Draper is back in hospital as she shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the “inspiring” couple.
The couple, along with their children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 13, had set out from their north London home to see Elton on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour at the O2 Arena on Monday.
The 55-year-old Kate previously told how the 76-year-old singer surprised them with a shoutout and dedicated his hit Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me to them.
She has now shared the special footage of the tribute song as she revealed that Derek, 55, was almost “too weak to be present” and has spent time in hospital.
Late Wednesday night, Kate posted on Instagram to her 1.1 million followers: “…so this was a moment.
Emotional: Kate Garraway shared the special moment when Sir Elton John dedicated his hit Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me to her husband Derek Draper at the O2 on Monday
Meaningful: The Good Morning Britain presenter, 55, has been caring for her husband Derek, also 55, since he fell ill
‘Finally found someone who actually filmed it instead of just bursting into tears like us!!!
“I still can’t quite believe we got there – even hours before we feared Derek would be too weak – but he was determined.
“Yes Derek has been in the hospital again this week and yes there is such a long road ahead but #eltonjohn & @davidfurnish you gave the kids and Derek a moment we will never forget and got them back uplifted to feel that anything is possible.”
She continued, thanking Sir Elton’s team: ‘Thank you for your inspiring music and huge heart.
Thanks also to all the others who made the impossible possible. All the carers, the #rocketeentertainment team, the gang of @theo2london who work so hard to make concerts like this accessible & @addisonleecabs who have worked hard to find suitable transport. We are bursting with gratitude xxx’
The clip revealed the hitmaker’s touching and thoughtful words before he started singing.
Sir Elton said: ‘They are inspiring. They never gave up and I’m so glad they’re here, I can’t believe they’re here.
“I want to dedicate this song to the people I mentioned earlier, but especially to you.”
Concerns: Kate revealed that Derek was almost “too weak” to attend and has been back in the hospital
Big night out: The couple ventured from their North London home along with their children Darcey, 17, and Billy, 13, to see Elton on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour
At the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, Derek was diagnosed with the coronavirus and left in a life-threatening condition.
Doctors put him in an induced coma and on a ventilator and he was hospitalized for 13 months.
He has been seriously ill since 2020 and has been in and out of the hospital ever since.
Kate previously told Smooth Radio: ‘Until the last minute I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to get Derek there.
“It took weeks of planning and just days before it looked like he would be too sick to attend. Even on the journey there he seemed so weak.’
However, things quickly turned for the better, she said.
“As soon as we entered the stadium and Elton went on stage, he started crying tears of joy and squeezed my hand so tightly. He refused to wear hearing protectors for an hour so he could hear the music,” she explains.
Kate continued, “But at some point it all seemed too much for him and he started shaking. His nurses and I took him out into the hall to give him a moment to stretch and relax in the darkness and silence.
Difficult: According to Kate, the journey has been a great ordeal for the pair – especially for former political lobbyist Derek, 55, who faced devastating health complications after his body was ravaged by the coronavirus three years ago – pictured together in 2019
“After a while I asked him if it was time to go and he said, ‘No… want to go back,’ so we put earmuffs on him to reduce the stimulation and drove him back to the concert.
It must have been fate, because that’s exactly when Elton suddenly dedicated Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me to Derek and his journey.
“We were all in tears, the kids, Derek, and even the nurses. It was totally unexpected.
“People around us were so nice and started clapping which was an extraordinary moment that we will all cherish forever and Elton made it possible.
“Derek has been stuck at home for so long, so for him to experience that joy and be a part of so many people’s amazing night was just magical. Today, of course, he is exhausted, and tomorrow he will be treated again in the hospital.
“But his spirit is in good spirits and we will always have that special moment as a family, whatever the future brings.”
In tribute to the singer, she said, “I can’t thank Elton and David enough. They are such nice people and they have been so supportive of us for the past three years.
“We are surrounded by so much kindness from people everywhere. It really keeps us through the tough times. We’re just bursting with gratitude.”
Thoughtful: Elton recognized the difficult time the couple had been going through and made sure to give them something to smile about. When he took the stage, he told the audience that they had been through “really tough times.”
It’s not the first time the Rocket Man star has supported Kate and Derek.
In 2020, Kate revealed on Good Morning Britain that Elton John contacted her while her husband was in a coma.
She told GMB at the time, “Elton John contacted me. It was so strange.
“I was like, ‘Elton… John?’ We have a mutual friend that I knew nothing about. And because of all the work he does for the AIDS Foundation, he thought, ‘What can I do to help?
“I know a bit about antiviral stuff. And I’m on board. I’ll try to help. He’s incredible.’
Kate also played Sir Elton’s music for Derek during his hospital stay.
Earlier this month, the pair were spotted supporting Kate with her frail husband as they headed to a pub for lunch.
The couple showed their strength and determination as they made their way to their local — which is no mean feat, as Kate revealed last month, there are days when Derek just “can’t do anything.”
The Good Morning Britain presenter is reportedly planning a world tour to find a breakthrough treatment as a ‘last hope’.
During their outing, they were joined by a caretaker who pushed Derek’s wheelchair, while Kate kept him warm by handing him his leather gloves.
At one point, the TV presenter put her hands on his shoulders and uttered some comforting words.
After the meal, Kate was pictured carrying bags of leftovers to take home, with insiders saying the trip was a big one.
A source told The sun: ‘It was a wonderful day out for them. Something others might take for granted, a simple trip to the pub was a big step for them and they really enjoyed it.’
Kate is reportedly planning a world tour for groundbreaking treatment in a “last hope” to help her husband.
A source told Bella Magazine: ‘This is really Kate’s desperate attempt to save Derek’s life and she’s willing to try anything.
She has explored a number of experimental medical options around the world and in Mexico in particular in an effort to save him from the devastating effects of Covid-19.
‘Last hope’: It comes after the Good Morning Britain presenter is reportedly planning a trip around the world to find groundbreaking treatment as ‘last hope’
Kate only wants the best for Derek. She wants to try it because she feels like it’s her last hope.’
Derek, a former political consultant, has previously traveled to Mexico for clinical trials in 2021 and 2022.
Due to lockdown rules during the pandemic, Kate and the couple’s children were unable to visit him while he was undergoing treatment.
13 months later, Derek was finally allowed to go home.
After the long hospitalization, however, his body was ravaged by various crippling conditions and he is now confined to a bed and wheelchair.
While Derek’s chances of long-term recovery are still unknown, there’s no denying the “utter devastation” of his body.
While Kate insisted they had received ‘great treatment’ from the NHS, which was essential to keeping her husband alive, the overseas trips provide ‘potentially life-saving treatment’.
In addition to the trip, the Smooth Radio presenter has had to spend “tens of thousands of pounds” adapting the family home in London for Derek, including the installation of ramps, a downstairs wet room and a makeshift downstairs bedroom.
Due to the severity of his illness and the length of time he 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 again rushed to the hospital, where the serious condition nearly killed him.