Kate Garraway has penned an emotional post as she celebrates her first birthday since the death of her husband Derek Draper.
The Good Morning Britain star’s husband Derek Draper died in January after a long health battle following Covid. Kate turned 57 earlier this month, and has now shared a string of moving Instagram messages about how touched she was by some of her special gifts.
The presenter said she felt like the “luckiest person in the world” after being sent presents by family and friends including her GMB colleague Susanna Reid. Sharing snaps of some new clothes and a sweet card from Susanna, she said she’d had some “fabulous total surprises”.
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Kate wrote: “Gorgeous chocolates & flowers from @susannareid100, a basket of goodies from the @gmb gang, a fabulous wrap dress literally left on my doorstep as she ‘thought I might need cheering up’ by my mate @toniabuxton.”
The star – who is mum to son Billy, 14, and daughter Darcey, 17, with her late husband – went on: “And the last is the most personal & kind embroidered collar – you know how I love my crazy collars! – from @lisamejuto. Lisa is a makeup artist at @gmb & she’s gorgeous to everyone & fab at her job & we’ve laughed our heads off together over the years.
“But today when she gave me this out of the blue at 4 in the morning I burst into tears. The hard work & effort – carefully hand sewing symbols that she knows mean so much – including Darcey, Bill & Derek’s initials, shows so much painstaking love.
“The picture really doesn’t do it justice. Am now lying in bed feeling like the luckiest person in the world to have so many good people around me.”
Another snap showed Kate with a wheelbarrow. “But have to leave the final one – & promise this is the last !! – to the people who were there on the 1st birthday – Mum & Dad,” she said.
“You know my garden is my #happyplace but have been feeling overwhelmed recently as it’s got so out of control as have just been racing around trying to keep head above water. So they surprised me with this wheelbarrow saying that even though our garden isn’t big ‘it helps when lugging & carrying’. Not everyone’s first choice for a prezzie but I couldn’t be happier!!!
“Love you so much mum and dad – you always know the best way to get me out there & going forward. I can’t wait to get my hands dirty this weekend & get going! Have a fab one everyone!!!”
Kate married Derek in 2005. He first fell ill with the coronavirus in March 2020 and needed round the clock care when he returned home more than a year later.
He died in January aged 56, weeks after suffering a cardiac arrest. “Rest gently and peacefully now Derek, my love, I was so lucky to have you in my life,” Kate said on Instagram after he passed away.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk