Kate Garraway’s Husband Utters Heartbreaking First Word after 214-day Coronavirus Fight

Kate Garraway has revealed that her husband Derek Draper has spoken his first word since his coronavirus battle began 214 days ago.

The Good Morning Britain presenter was watching via a video call from home over FaceTime as doctors tended to Derek in the hospital when he mouthed the word “pain”. It was the first word Derek, 53, has uttered since March. Kate said: “It’s a case of trying to balance belief, hope, optimism with reality. But we have had a breakthrough which was both amazing yet ­heartbreaking. It happened when the nurses were moving Derek, as part of his treatment, to trigger the sensation of gravity because he’s been horizontal for so long.”

Kate went on to say: “Right from the beginning when Derek couldn’t even open his eyes, the doctors and nurses have always talked to him to be respectful and to try to trigger a response. As they were shifting him, they asked if he could feel anything — not expecting a response as he hadn’t previously. But suddenly he mouthed in a whisper, ‘Pain’.

She added: “Obviously it’s so heart-wrenching that his first word was ‘pain’, but it is a huge breakthrough because it means he has been able to connect the feeling in his body to his brain and mouth. They called me straight after and I burst into tears. The staff told me later that they were so emotional as well. It breaks my heart that there may have been times that he’s been in terrible pain and wasn’t able to communicate it. But he’s said it twice now and I was there for the second one, watching him over FaceTime.

Derek’s tracheotomy tube has now been removed and he is now able to breathe without a ventilator, although sadly, it seems Derek is still in a lot of pain.


Thank you for taking the time to read this news article “Kate Garraway’s Husband Utters Heartbreaking First Word after 214-day Coronavirus Fight”. For more UK daily news, Spanish daily news and Global news stories, visit the Euro Weekly News home page.

Euro Weekly News is delighted to continue to be able to bring you a range of News from around Spain in English and Global News live as it happens.

Euro Weekly News doesn’t cost you anything but your internet connection. Whether it’s bringing you the local Spanish news or the International news today, we’ve got you covered!

Euro Weekly News, the leading free local and national newspaper in Spain, the people’s paper, we lead others follow!    

Author badge placeholder
Written by

Tony Winterburn

Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews

Comments