Kate Garraway broke down in tears as she opened up about her husband Derek Draper’s Covid battle on This Morning.
The 56-year-old appeared on Thursday’s instalment of the ITV mid-morning show as she promoted her new book, The Strength of Love: Embracing an Uncertain Future with Resilience and Optimism, which chronicles her family’s struggles with the health system.
Speaking to hosts Holly Willoughby and Josie Gibson, the ITV star was overcome with emotion after admitting to feeling like she’s not “good enough” to care for her other half.
Garraway reflected: “One of the pressures I think is that you can never be quite sure that anything is going to work, so therefore you're in a constant state of adrenaline.
“Every infection, every medication that's prescribed, is it the right one at the chemist? No, it's not, so I've got to check it.
“So consequentially you just feel like you are holding a life in your hands and I’m not sure I’m good enough for that any more – and it's just too much,” she added tearfully.
Later in the interview, she was left visibly emotional as she recalled the family attending Elton John’s concert in the O2 Arena where the legendary singer dedicated a song to Draper, describing it as a moment she’d “never forget”.
Her candid comments comes after she revealed Draper has been left battling a “nasty infection” this week.
The 56-year-old fell seriously ill with coronavirus at the very start of the pandemic in March 2020, where he was hospitalised for a year, placed in a medically-induced coma and is now in a wheelchair
The virus led to brain inflammation, kidney failure and significant damage to his liver and pancreas, as well as multiple instances of his heart stopping.
Sharing an update with GMB hosts Susanna Reid and Ben Shephard, Garraway said: “He’s had a nasty infection this week that set him back a bit but we’re on the right side of it, so that’s good.
“There are so many people in the health system trapped in the web of it. People are not being taken care of in a system that’s in trouble.”
The broadcaster recently opened up about the realities of life caring for her husband to The Sunday Times – revealing that she only sleeps for around four hours most nights, and has not taken a day off caring for Derek since he fell ill.
The Life Stories host told the outlet: “Caring for someone you love is a privilege, and I will never give up, but I want to champion the cause that everyone in my position faces because I know people are drowning trying to navigate through the care system.
“We talk about a crisis but it is beyond crisis.
“It is very lonely and very difficult, and I at least do have that voice.”
Garraway has made two documentaries detailing her life as Draper battles the long-term effects of Covid-19, with both winning National Television Awards (NTAs).
In 2022, she was recognised with an MBE in the New Year Honours for her services to broadcasting, journalism and charity.
