Timeline of Kate Garraway’s husband Derek Draper’s health struggles after devastating heart attack

Kate Garraway is deeply worried about her husband Derek Draper after he suffered a sudden 'huge' heart attack.

The Good Morning Britain presenter has reportedly cancelled all her upcoming TV and radio work to be by his side in hospital.

Derek became seriously ill last Monday and was rushed to the hospital. "Everyone is praying for a miracle," a source shared, revealing that Derek's heart attack has left him fighting for his life once again.

The source told The Sun: "It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing so well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family. This setback has been a huge blow for his family and all the people caring for him."

Derek caught Covid-19 in March 2020 and was critically ill, spending more than a year in hospital. A month later, Kate was self-isolating at home she shared with her husband and children after also showing symptoms, but she hadn't been tested at that point.

On April 24, Derek was put into a medically induced coma to help his body fight off the effects of coronavirus. At that time, a worried Kate shared that she would play his favourite songs to him and try to chat with her husband via video call, but wasn't sure if he could hear her.

In June, the telly host said that Derek had beaten the Covid-19 infection but it had caused 'extraordinary havoc' on his body. Even though he had recovered, she mentioned he might stay in a coma for a year.

Kate revealed that the 56 year old woke up from his coma in July 2020 but was still in a 'minimally conscious state.'

As lockdown rules were relaxed, it meant that the daytime presenter could visit Derek in person. Kate and her kids hadn't been able to see Derek for four months.

Talking about her husband's recovery in September, Kate confessed Derek had lost eight stone while he was in a coma. She says it was a 'shock' to see him for the first time despite him being unconscious and connected to several tubes. Derek's first word after waking up was 'pain', Kate had shared at the time. After 214 days in hospital, he could breathe without a ventilator again.

It had been a year since Derek was admitted to the hospital when Kate released her documentary series on ITV, titled Caring for Derek. On March 23, 2021, she was able to share her family's struggle, and the turbulent year they had with viewers.

Kate joyfully announced on Good Morning Britain that her husband Derek finally returned home on April 8, needing round-the-clock care. She shared that Derek's 'communication is very minimal' and 'he can't really move.'

Later in the year, she tidied up Derek's office, a task she had been avoiding as it was 'too emotional.' In January, the family went out to see a panto, but Derek was not well. "We thought it was worth it and I know he did too," Kate said. "It took everything out of him. We don't know what this year is going to bring."

In April 2022, Kate had an emotional reunion with Beth Dixon, the nurse who cared for Derek. They hugged live on Good Morning Britain during an interview.

Sadly, two months later, Kate revealed that Derek was frequently 'in and out' of hospital, leaving her 'exhausted and very fretful.' At the Tric Awards in London, she told The Sun about Derek: "He's ok, he's back in hospital actually, so that's a development. There we are."

Kate has taken a break from presenting Good Morning Britain due to concerns about Derek's condition. An ITV spokesperson stated: "Kate is taking some time off work over the next few days, and is hoping to be back to her normal presenting duties as soon as possible."

In January 2023, Kate shared that she was left upset after her husband 'fell out of a wheelchair' as they had to find other ways to travel due to long waits for ambulances and hospital transport.

The family had their first family outing in March 2023. Kate visited Disneyland Paris with her son Billy and daughter Darcy before Derek became seriously unwell. Just a few weeks later, Derek returned home again after being rushed to hospital.

Derek got to see the proud moment his TV star wife was given an MBE by Prince William for her work in broadcasting, journalism and charity. She got the honour in July.

In September, Kate talked about her husband Derek's ongoing health fight and said she and her children are still living with the chance that her husband could die at any minute.

Just last month, she shared that he had a health problem and was taken back to hospital. "He is living in the world of the unknown, when he wakes up in the morning it is heartbreaking because it feels as though you are watching someone who may have been living his old life in his dreams and then he wakes up and you see the cloud descend of the battle he has ahead," she shared.

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