Kate Garraway has reflected on the ‘missed moments’ of 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic as her husband Derek Draper continues his battle against the disease.
The former political lobbyist, 53, remains in hospital after waking up from an induced coma following his admission to hospital with coronavirus on March 30.
Speaking on Monday ahead of GMB’s 1 Million Minutes Awards, the presenter, 53, said: ‘There have been so many missed moments haven’t there? The first one was not having our chocolate Easter egg hunt that my mum organises every year.
‘There have been so many missed moments’: Kate Garraway reflected on her struggles over the past year on Monday as husband Derek Draper continues his COVID-19 battle
‘Then there was my birthday and then Billy’s birthday and Derek’s birthday… all those moments. Trying to make the most of them over Zoom and FaceTime.
‘My two god-daughters have both had babies and I have missed the first birthday, I have missed the christening, I just haven’t seen them because I haven’t been able to. I think I shall treasure all that when we start to get it back.’
Kate has spoken frequently about how much she and their children Darcey, 14, and Billy, 11, miss Derek while he is treated in hospital.
She went on: ‘Billy also missed all of his end-of-term Year 6 events, along with others in Year 6, which are special because they mark the leaving of primary school and going to secondary school.
Illness: The former political lobbyist, 53, remains in hospital after waking up from an induced coma following his admission to hospital with coronavirus on March 30 (pictured in 2019)
‘It was such a shame not to be able to say goodbye properly or share those final moments with his schoolteachers and friends.
‘But so many people are missing out on such treasured moments, it really does break your heart thinking about it.’
Kate and GMB co-host Ben Shephard are set to host Good Morning Britain’s virtual 1 Million Minutes Awards ceremony as part of ITV’s mental wellness campaign Britain Get Talking.
The movement wants to end loneliness and asks people to pledge their time to stop aloneness becoming the ‘next pandemic’.
She said her fellow presenter has been a tower of strength for her throughout her challenging year, as she added: ‘He has been at the end of the phone and trying to do everything that he can to help.
Reflecting: Looking back, Kate said: ‘There have been so many missed moments haven’t there… my birthday and then Billy’s birthday and Derek’s birthday… all those moments’
‘To be serious for a minute, it has been a huge pressure on him.
‘Working alongside somebody that you care for and you are worried about, plus also trying to do the job, it’s a huge thing and I am very grateful that he has been there and I am aware how tough it’s been for him… He has been amazing, you will make me cry now.’
Shephard added: ‘There is not a day when I don’t think about her and what is happening that day and whether I can do something to help her today.
‘There is not a moment when I’m working with her where that admiration tarnishes.
‘Kate is so brilliant and professional and we have fun so you sometimes forget the relentless journey that they are on at the moment.
Candid: Kate has spoken frequently about how much she and their children Darcey, 14, and Billy, 11, miss Derek while he is treated in hospital (pictured in 2019)
‘We all want to know what the outcome is going to be and that is the hardest thing, not knowing.
‘It is so, so difficult and her eternal optimism and positivity is something that we can all look at. It is something that I use to inspire me as well.
‘In 2021 I will undoubtedly be more optimistic and positive, because of my friendship with Kate and how much I admire her.’
In November, Kate told Ben Shephard she ‘is in total panic’ as she and her children Darcey and Billy are still unable to visit Derek in hospital.
Support: Kate is set to host the show’s 1 Million Minutes Awards, and she said her co-host Ben Shephard has been a tower of strength for her throughout her challenging year
The media personality previously admitted Derek had ‘a tough week,’ as she shared her uncertainty over whether her long-term partner could finally be discharged.
She said that as Derek is still too ill to return home, and her children’s grandparents are unable to visit, she’ll be facing her first Christmas alone since her eldest daughter Darcey was born.
‘I feel physically sick actually and can feel my chest tightening at the thought of it,’ Kate said.
‘I’m in total panic about the idea of me, Darcey and Billy on our own this Christmas unable to visit Derek because of potential restrictions.
‘That huge emotional hole, and I don’t know how to fill it, without grandparents and without friends helping to fill it.
‘It feels like such a significant moment as all festivals are. I do feel in a panic about it, but we’re in this situation because of the spread of a disease that at the moment doesn’t have a cure.’
Derek was originally admitted to hospital with COVID-19 symptoms in March and he remains seriously ill.
The GMB presenters will be hosting the 1 Million Minutes Awards virtually on December 17. To pledge your support to Good Morning Britain’s 1 Million Minutes Awards go to ITV.com/1MillionMinutes.
There to assist: Of Ben’s support, Kate said: ‘He has been at the end of the phone and trying to do everything that he can to help’