Kate Garraway had no idea that Derek Draper, her Covid-stricken spouse, would ever say those words again.
But the Good Morning Britain presenter reveals tonight that the former Labour spin doctor, whom she has nursed since his near-fatal medical crisis last year, has finally uttered the phrase she has longed to hear: ‘I love you.’
Fighting back tears, Ms Garraway vows to Piers Morgan in his final episode of Life Stories that she will ‘never give up’ on Mr Draper after his 13-month battle in hospital – the longest of any surviving Covid patient.
In the highly emotional interview, she discusses with MoS columnist Morgan how her husband managed three words – ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’ – to him on the telephone the night before the programme was recorded last month.
![Kate Garraway, pictured, appeared on Piers Morgan's Life Stories where she spoke of the Covid torment her family has gone through over the past two years](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/12/04/21/51344577-10275685-image-a-11_1638655077807.jpg)
Kate Garraway was pictured. She spoke about the Covid pain her family experienced over the past 2 years on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories
![Ms Garraway, mother of Darcey, 15, and Billy, 12, was left devastated when her husband Derek Draper was hospitalised with Covid in March 2020. Along with doctors, she feared he wouldn¿t survive ¿ but he defied the odds to return to the family¿s North London home in April, where he is continuing his recovery](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/12/04/22/51344579-10275685-image-m-13_1638656956911.jpg)
Mother of Darcey (15 years old) and Billy (12 years old), Ms Garraway was devastated to learn that her husband Derek Draper, a covid patient, was admitted in March 2020. Along with doctors, she feared he wouldn’t survive – but he defied the odds to return to the family’s North London home in April, where he is continuing his recovery
She continues: ‘It’s moments like that which make you realise he is there, and we have had others. He will turn to me and say “I love you.” He is there, he has fought so hard to stay in this world and I’m not giving up on him, ever.
‘He will have moments of clarity, then it’s like he disappears but then he finds a voice.’
Mother of Darcey (15 years old) and Billy (12 years old), Ms Garraway was devastated to learn that Mr Draper had been hospitalized with Covid in February 2020. Along with doctors, she feared he wouldn’t survive – but he defied the odds to return to the family’s North London home in April, where he is continuing his recovery.
Revealing the torment she has endured, the television host adds: ‘It does feel like I have walked through a fiery furnace, or fell down a rabbit hole. The world went dark and I’m still looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.
‘Covid has devastated him, from the top of his head to the tip of his toe. He lost his digestive system, liver, heart and nervous system. We’re pretty sure the inflammation did pass through his brain. Fundamentally he is in a terrible state, but look: he’s alive.’
Tonight’s show, which airs on ITV at 8pm, is Morgan’s last after 103 episodes which have seen him interview showbusiness legends including Sir Rod Stewart, the late Dame Barbara Windsor and Dame Joan Collins. He also interviewed senior politicians like John Prescott or Sir KeirStarmer.
His replacement will be Ms Garraway (54), who was awarded a National Television Award for Finding Derek in September.