Yahoo News Ben Shephard wishes Kate Garraway happy birthday as her husband battles coronavirus
Good Morning Britain’s Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid wished Kate Garraway an emotional happy 53rd birthday live on air on Monday as her husband continues to battle COVID-19.
Derek Draper, who Garraway married in 2005, has been in hospital since the end of March.
The 52-year-old is still in a critical condition, according to Shephard, who is standing in for usual host Piers Morgan while he awaits the results of a coronavirus test.
Read more: Kate Garraway having 'hardest' few weeks of her life as husband battles COVID-19
Shephard said: “We want to say happy birthday to Kate who turns 40/13 today.
“She’s with her family, of course, keeping everything crossed because Derek is still critically ill.
“But we just want to say happy birthday, Kate. However you can celebrate today, we’re sending you lots and lots of love.”
Reid added: “Huge love to all of you and the family of course.”
Garraway has described recent weeks as the “hardest” of her life.
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She wrote on her personal blog last month: “You may have seen over the last few [weeks] that my husband Derek has been seriously ill in hospital with COVID-19. I am afraid that he remains in a deeply critical condition and is very ill, but he's still alive so there is hope.
"It remains an extremely worrying time for us all and the last couple of weeks have been the hardest of my life."
Garraway has received a host of messages and best wishes on social media.
One person tagged Garraway last week on Twitter, writing: “There’s a story on BBC News just now about a 30+ student nurse who has been in ICU for ages, and just recovered and got home – be positive, keep trying to get verbal messages to him, the subconscious can sometimes hear.”
Another fan tweeted: “My mum (who’s 80 next week and not a Twitter user!) has asked if I could let you know she lights a candle every day for Derek and for all those suffering from this horrendous virus.
“We send you and your family lots of love.”
