Kate Garraway has opened up on her life with husband Derek Draper and their family with two children, Darcey and William, as she admitted that even now she worries every time their dad is rushed into hospital he'll be "taken" from them.
The Good Morning Britain presenter and long-standing journalist, who became teary during a conversation with the Health Secretary earlier this month, shared all on how the family has adjusted since Derek came home after suffering from a severe bout of COVID-19 in 2020.
Derek was one of the first celebrities to be diagnosed with the virus at the time, and he unfortunately developed severe complications as a result of contracting the disease before a vaccine was available.
Two years on, the family still struggle with Derek's health issues, but do their best to share love and joy with their beloved husband and father.
Speaking on Heart Breakfast with hosts Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden about her new book Strength of Love, Kate, 56, said adrenaline has played a huge part in their journey, but it has also led to constant anxiety over Derek's condition.
"How are the kids feeling, that adjustment must be tricky especially at their age?" Jamie asked.
"Well, yeah I think it’s been quite interesting," Kate considered. "I think some of what I’ve been writing about in the book (The Strength of Love), is the fact that you have adrenaline, don’t you, when something dramatic happens.
"I talk about what I think is adrenaline, it’s a bit of a frenemy. One level it’s fantastic, it gets you through the crisis, and then as time goes on, it’s not great for your own health.
"Derek himself has been living on a version of adrenaline as well. And the kids have too in their own way, so I think the last year and a half really, has been coming to terms with the fact that we’re not in a ‘one week’ ‘two week’ ‘three month’ drama.
"We’re in something ongoing and I think weirdly, that’s how it's felt for everybody beyond the pandemic.
"We still don’t know, just how much better Derek can get, or worse," the star continued. "So really every time he has a rush into hospital, we’re still in that adrenaline phase of 'is this the moment where he could be taken from us'.
"But also, there’s so many spikes of progression, that no one’s giving up hope that there isn’t going to be a movement forward, so it’s managing that rollercoaster. Sorry that wasn’t particularly clear."
Amanda then weighed in on Derek's progress, calling it "amazing" and he continues to go "up and up and up".
She then queried whether having him in the house, in his physical state, has been "challenging" for the children, as Derek's "their daddy".
"He’s their Daddy," Kate agreed. "And it’s interesting, he comes most alive I think when he’s around, not so much me, let’s be honest, but no, of course there is a huge amount of love for me.
"[But] he does come alive and you can see him kind of trying to be the old Dad as much as he can, trying to make them laugh, trying to do different things.
"But they’ve had to realise that, I mean Derek was this kind of loud, rumbustious, huge, you know… overwhelming… [man], and god how we loved it, but he’s not that now, so they’ve had to readjust," the GMB host added, gushing over how well her teenage daughter and young son have navigated the situation "brilliantly".
Sharing a sweet snap with Jamie and Amanda on Instagram, Kate also joked it was great to grab breakfast with the pair as they spoke "how to cope when the world chucks stuff at you from every angle".
Listen to Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden weekdays from 6am – 10am and on Global Player
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