Kate Garraway reveals husband Derek Draper's 'heartbreaking' first word in months
Kate Garraway has given an update on the health of husband Derek Draper, who she reveals said his “heartbreaking” first word recently after contracting COVID-19 back in March.
Draper has been in hospital for more than 200 days, and while Garraway has said there has been a “breakthrough” in his condition, she says her husband is still suffering, revealing he has mouthed the word “pain”.
The Good Morning Britain star told The Sun: "It’s a case of trying to balance belief, hope, optimism with reality.
Read more: Kate Garraway reveals husband has 'worrying downs' amid coronavirus battle
“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."
As doctors were moving Draper, to keep his blood circulating and to stop his body seizing up, he said his devastating first word since March.
Garraway says she and doctors have been constantly talking to bed-bound Draper in the hope of getting a response, and as medics spoke to him while manoeuvring his body, he unexpectedly mouthed the word "pain".
While Garroway told it is "heart wrenching" that "pain" was her husband's first word in months, the fact that he communicated is a "huge breakthrough".
Watch: Kate Garraway on husband Derek Draper’s “tough week”
Draper has since said the word again, and Garraway witnessed it as she was watching via FaceTime.
The couple, both 53, have two children, daughter Darcey, 14, and 11-year-old son Billy.
Garraway previously gave an update on her husband’s progress earlier this month live on GMB.
Read more: Kate Garraway's husband now longest suffering critical COVID-19 patient
She told co-host Susanna Reid: "The problem is, I feel like I'm just boring everyone to death really because it ends up with the same thing, which is stable but actually in between when I’m not talking to you there are big ups and big downs.
“Not big ups really, small improvements and worrying downs as well.
"The last few days have been pretty stable so we are keeping everything crossed.”
Watch: Kate Garraway gives Derek Draper update on GMB
