TV presenter Kate Garraway has said she can feel very lonely despite having her husband Derek back by her side - but adds that they have found a new way to be in love.
The Life Stories host says Derek has started to accept he can get better, giving them genuine hope for the future.
Despite the fact the political lobbyist-turned-psychotherapist may never filly recover, Kate said she still feels so lucky.
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It is now almost two years from when Derek entered hospital for a 13 months stay after being struck down with Covid-19 in March 2020.
Doctors made the decision to put him into an induced coma and he didn't return home for more than a year - but Kate says they now have a "new way" of understanding each other, as reported by The Mirror.
Speaking to You Magazine, Kate said she still feels very alone at times, but has revealed that Derek is at last coming round to the idea that his condition could improve.
She said: "It’s very lonely. It’s very lonely in a very crowded space. It’s hard to admit that, but it’s true.
"But now I think he believes he can get better, but until we know how, it’s challenging - there are very hard days and nights, but, yeah, I’ve got a lot of hope."
She added: “I’m not sure that we’ve ever fallen out of love, but I think a new path is emerging, a new way to be in love."
Although she says her husband is often ‘lost and confused’, she is buoyed by what she calls flashes of his former self.
The 54-year-old won a National Television Award last year for Finding Derek, a moving documentary that brought to life her torture during his 13-month hospital stay.
Now she will be recording a second show about Derek's brutal health battle.
ITV has now confirmed the broadcaster will be making a second instalment about their ongoing ordeal.
She said late last year: "We are going to make another documentary — there are plans for more."
"Derek has a very short window of energy, but we are trying. He has been home for four months now and it was enough for him being home.
"Now we are really hoping we can have more and more people in to see him."
At the beginning of this year, Kate was gobsmacked to be awarded an MBE by The Queen in her annual New Year Honours list.
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