Inside Kate Garraway's life months after husband Derek Draper's death

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Beloved Good Morning Britain host Kate Garraway is grappling with the poignant reality of life after the loss of her beloved husband, Derek Draper, who tragically died on January 3, 2024.

Kate has experienced a profound journey of sorrow and adjustment for herself and her children in the year since Derek's passing following his extended battle with long COVID.

The journey brought not only distress but also an intense challenge of adapting to life beyond Derek's presence, his health struggle having been publicised through Kate's intimate ITV documentaries.

Through immense personal strength, Kate now manages the dual roles of mourning and nurturing her family while continuing her high-profile work on television and supporting UK carers.

Here, we have delved into the seasoned broadcaster's world as she navigates the complexities of bereavement.

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Kate has been open about life since losing her husband (Image: ITV)

The pain of losing Derek, who was just 56 years old, weighed heavily on her for years as she was deeply involved in his care and now faces a stark new reality without him.

Handling Grief

Stricken with grief at 57, Kate has opened up about her intense emotional state, saying she's "barely holding it together," reports Daily Record.

In March, Kate opened up about the profound conversations she had filled with hope with her husband Derek as his health improved. Speaking to The Times, she reflected: "We were in a very different place, health-wise, from the year before - and it felt like the happiest place."

She continued, sharing the optimism they both felt during that time: "We had more of Derek back. We always knew his injuries could take him, but it all felt so positive at that point. It was the furthest from my mind that anything could happen."

Family

Amidst these trials, as a devoted mother to Darcey and Billy, Kate has been keen on preserving normality and emotional stability for her children.

Witnessing the incredible strength demonstrated by her kids, Kate has engaged in heartfelt discussions and shared experiences to boost their morale. Her children's fortitude in facing grief and adversity is an inspiration and guiding force for Kate as she navigates the upcoming stages of life.

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The star has continued to highlight normalcy with her children (Image: Max Cisotti/Dave Benett/Getty Im) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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In September, Kate helped her daughter Darcey with her transition to university, a true testament to her determination to continue living a normal life.

Taking to Instagram, she described the universal parental challenge with a touch of humour: "And just like that she was off! That tiny helpless baby we brought home from hospital 18 yrs ago has gone to #uni! Just like thousands of other parents this weekend I was playing that game of #student jenga trying to get it all in the car."

Finances

Kate has also openly dealt with financial strains throughout her family's journey.

The prolonged care for Derek has led to substantial financial strain on the family. Kate has been candid about these hardships, even contemplating selling their family home, which had been significantly adapted to cater to Derek's medical requirements.

Earlier this year, Kate voiced her concerns for unpaid carers like herself, disclosing an outstanding debt of £800,000 for Derek's care and highlighting the scarcity of available funding.

The star has won awards for her realistic portrayal in her documentaries (Image: Getty) window.topArticlesScript="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/js/dist/article-top-articles20241210.min.js"

She expressed: "It's supposed to be a system that's meant to catch you if you fall. But actually, it feels like it's trying to catch you out... Derek's needs were clearly so great, yet he didn't warrant funded care - so you think, 'If he isn't getting it, then who is?'"

"To be fair to them, no one's contacted me since he's passed away to ask for that. They may well still do, but they haven't as yet," she shared with The Times.

Advocacy and Accolades

Throughout Derek's illness, Kate leveraged her platform to shed light on the struggles endured by carers, documenting her journey through documentaries and interviews. This advocacy remains a focal point for her as she gears up to launch a new ITV series centered around resilience and recovery.

Derek sadly passed away in January (Image: ITV)

Alongside her advocacy efforts, Kate continues to fulfil her duties on Good Morning Britain. Upon her return to the show following Derek's passing, she extended her gratitude to her viewers and colleagues for their steadfast support, emphasising her appreciation and determination to embrace life despite its challenges.

Moreover, Kate has been recognised with numerous accolades for her poignant TV documentaries, including Caring for Derek, Derek's Story, and Finding Derek.

Following her triumph at this year's National Television Awards, she expressed her gratitude on Instagram, saying: "My goodness - thank you all so so much - we are in bits but I promise I won't let you down. Such an incredible series of programmes to be nominated alongside - @robbiewilliams @davidbeckham @victoriabeckham @rhodgilbert @rose.a.e your stories are incredible - it was humbling to be in your group. It means everything to all our family - thank you for recognising carers everywhere and love to you all." (sic)