Kate Garraway and her husband

I think a large part of it will be financial. She will have to shoulder the burden of what I assume is a fairly expensive lifestyle. And is now much more so, with the level of care he needs. They have children that are probably at private schools and will therefore expect good university funding by their parents.

I don't begrudge her a penny. I read occasionally about him and each time, hope there will be better news.

Schumacher and family are multi millionaires. They don't need to hustle.

*Michael Schumacher's wife, had plenty of money behind her and did not have to earn enough money to pay for Michael's care.

I am sure KH would have exactly the same 'dignity' if she could afford it.

I admire Kate for what she has done and how she's kept it all together. I think it's great that she's using her celebrity status to keep long Covid in the spotlight. She'll fight for Derek to the bitter end and for that she should be applauded not villified.

Kate Garraway is dealing with her situation in a way that is right for her. She is a high profile woman and and is in a position to use the media to raise awareness of Covid and the profound damage it can do. Many people fortunate enough to be in her position would do the same. I will not buy or read the book but hope Derek has a good recovery and I wish Kate well.

An admirable family. If they inspire just one family to keep going they've done a good job.
Role models come in all shapes & sizes - and goodness knows how many in the next few years will be dealing with similar circumstances.

i believe that she , kate has inspired him, derek, to keep going, when at time he'd felt like just giving up.
the love between them, and their children, is obvious.
she knows him better than anyone.
she loves him better than anyone.
and their struggle may inspire others to keep going.

I always felt uneasy about the photographs in the press showing her husband when he was ill in bed. I know I wouldn’t want the World to see photos of me in the same situation. What about his dignity and privacy? I’ve no idea whether he was able to give consent or not.

Apparently there is a netflix documentary about the Schumachers coming out this week. there is an article about it here

Thank you JaneJudge.
Gwyneth's comment about the upsetting photos of Derek's suffering being out there for everyone to see was kind of what I meant in my comparison with Michael Schuhmacher who is probably in an even worse state. The pictures in our minds of the latter, however, are all of MS being fit, healthy and happy because these are the photos the family have chosen to put out over the past 8 years or so. Kate has chosen to concentrate on her Derek's poorly condition and prognosis and that is entirely her business.
Many people want to keep quiet about their illness like Freddie Mercury, Victoria Wood etc because they want to protect the privacy of those around them or because they want to be remembered in a happy way, not suffering. Everyone is different.
I really hadn't intended the money side of things to have anything to do with my post about Schuhmacher, although I can see the issue raised.

I think to say KG is milking it is unpleasant and nasty. She is in a very sad situation, and I am glad she is keeping long covid in the public eye as it causes terrible suffering.

And to be fair a fat lot of good it did Freddie Mercury who was photographed and speculated about endlessly. I think people who are ill or caring for someone who is ill just cant win with regards to how people view them.

I was a journalist when my first baby went blind, aged three weeks. I wrote many different articles about the experience, for all sorts of publications, from educational to women's magazines. I got paid for them. I wonder if I had been a 'name' people would have thought I was taking advantage of it. Looking back, it helped me enormously to write about it. Kate Garraway is doing what comes naturally to her and surely is the best one to know how her husband feels about it.

I bought Kate's book the day it came out and it wasn't easy reading and revisiting the previous 12 months.

We as a family went through a devastating life change where months were spent in hospital and part of the reading made me revisit that.
I also had covid and then long covid which I think apart from brain fog the contraceptive pill and the 2nd vaccine has got me through it.
Derek's is a fascinating story too and I think Kate should tell it and it isn't over.
People living with long term disabilities and children having their family life changed in a blink of an eye are much better stories to tell than the only way of Essex celebrities becoming parents.

I think Kate is using her journalistic platform for good use. And she hardly mentions it in her professional role it is only when people ask.
I hope soon Derek can show how proud he is of Kate and I hope they can move forward as a family. Life will never be the same for them but there is still a good life to live and people to love. It is very sad that they are in this position and that they are getting criticised.
And money is needed it is her income and she shouldn't be ashamed of doing her best to support her family.

Whatdayisit, I feel like I have had some sort of triggered previous trauma during this period of covid too. I am remembering things that happened 2-3 decades ago and some of my dreams are horrific. I don't think things will ever be the same for a lot of people ever again and those of us who had suffered something life changing before, it has brought it all back. I suppose it's normal in a way and just part of the ongoing processing of grief?

Alizarin and you may well have helped others in a similar position
Theworriedwell for someone so private, you seem to think you know an awful lot about Kate and her husbands abilities Do stop worrying about what hasn’t really got anything to do with you
You have no more idea that any of us if he can convey his ideas, consent, feelings to her or not I m sure she’s savvy enough to know if he was the sort of man who would have said ‘go on do it’ or ‘don’t you dare’ and that s all that matters

Alizarin, I agree with BlueBelle too, I imagine it did help other people in a similar situation. It must have been a really isolating experience for you and if it gave you some peace to write about it, I can't see how it is wrong.

Yes JaneJudge possibly the almost shutting down of our lives has made parts of our brain work more than usual or the busy cogs slowed and gave chance for other cogs to process.
I don't think things will return to pre 2020. So much has changed.

I have to say I didn't vote for Finding Derek in the NTAs because it was up against Rob Burrow's My Year with MND.
Rob Burrow is one of Rugby League's top legends and two years ago he was diagnosed with MND.
He is a great man with a devestating story to tell about his life changing battle. He was a hero on the pitch and he is an even bigger hero now especially to his lovely family.
The more people who are struck down with life changing illnesses and disabilities who tell their story help those living anonymous lives live a better life.
I do feel that so many people don't want to see people with disabilities living their lives. Everyone is an individual and every person living with disability is as equal to those living without disability. People need to be less prejudice and more accepting. Disability does not discriminate.

I agree that my comment was harsh and judgemental and ill thought through. We are all different. I went through 20 years of my son's schizophrenia, a 20-year nightmare, before he died, and I found it helpful to write everything down, every meeting, everything that happened, and I suppose Kate being a journalist is used to being in the public eye. I spoke to a friend whose wife was dying of cancer and he used to send the most explicit emails about her condition, and he said it helped him to write it all down, to share it.

I think she is using her platform to help her cope with her situation. Who knows what we would do if we were her. Also, she has become the sole breadwinner and maybe these documentaries, books, etc help her to keep up the standard of living she and her kids have become used to. Is it right? Who can judge. All I know is I wouldn’t want to be her.

Flaxwoven, it sounds like you have been through a terrible ordeal you have been very dignified in coming back. We all say things in haste, we wouldn't be human if we didn't

whatdayisit, I haven't watched the Rob Burrow documentary, I'll watch it. We lost a friend to MND and it was devastatingly quick and cruel

Whatdayisit

I have to say I didn't vote for Finding Derek in the NTAs because it was up against Rob Burrow's My Year with MND.
Rob Burrow is one of Rugby League's top legends and two years ago he was diagnosed with MND.
He is a great man with a devestating story to tell about his life changing battle. He was a hero on the pitch and he is an even bigger hero now especially to his lovely family.
The more people who are struck down with life changing illnesses and disabilities who tell their story help those living anonymous lives live a better life.
I do feel that so many people don't want to see people with disabilities living their lives. Everyone is an individual and every person living with disability is as equal to those living without disability. People need to be less prejudice and more accepting. Disability does not discriminate.

Rob Burrows seems such a lovely man, he is really inspirational. Heartbreaking to watch.

BlueBelle

Alizarin and you may well have helped others in a similar position
Theworriedwell for someone so private, you seem to think you know an awful lot about Kate and her husbands abilities Do stop worrying about what hasn’t really got anything to do with you
You have no more idea that any of us if he can convey his ideas, consent, feelings to her or not I m sure she’s savvy enough to know if he was the sort of man who would have said ‘go on do it’ or ‘don’t you dare’ and that s all that matters

Oh right so you can only comment if you think it is right to invade his privacy? You don't really grasp what a discussion is to you.

Why exactly are you worrying about them or worrying about what I think?

How many people have ever discussed the possibility of having a devastating illness and their partner filming them and making a documentary and showing it to whoever wants to watch? I certainly haven't and I don't suppose many people have. She might know what he would want or she might think she knows. Doesn't alter the fact that from what she has said he doesn't seem to be able to give consent.

Josianne

Thank you JaneJudge.
Gwyneth's comment about the upsetting photos of Derek's suffering being out there for everyone to see was kind of what I meant in my comparison with Michael Schuhmacher who is probably in an even worse state. The pictures in our minds of the latter, however, are all of MS being fit, healthy and happy because these are the photos the family have chosen to put out over the past 8 years or so. Kate has chosen to concentrate on her Derek's poorly condition and prognosis and that is entirely her business.
Many people want to keep quiet about their illness like Freddie Mercury, Victoria Wood etc because they want to protect the privacy of those around them or because they want to be remembered in a happy way, not suffering. Everyone is different.
I really hadn't intended the money side of things to have anything to do with my post about Schuhmacher, although I can see the issue raised.

It isn't entirely her business, it is his business.

grannyrebel7

I admire Kate for what she has done and how she's kept it all together. I think it's great that she's using her celebrity status to keep long Covid in the spotlight. She'll fight for Derek to the bitter end and for that she should be applauded not villified.

You don't have to film the man in bed crying or trying to communicate to keep it in the public eye.