Heartbreaking and heartwrenching. Was in awe from beginning to end. Most of this was so hard to listen to, and you will cry like a baby, again and again. What a family! What a human being! Kate Garraway should be a Dame. I wish this family wellness, hopes fulfilled and prayers answered. I found this a very insightful look into the life that Kate Garraway, her husband Derek Draper and their two children found themselves in following him having contracted Covid-19 and how it has impacted on them. I found at times in the writing that Kate was able to relate some of the humour that she was able to find in the little things that have helped her to deal with this life changing event on Derek. Kate has written a heart tugging story that touched so many lives, and still continues to touch to this day. It is an honest account of the turmoil she went through during that eventful period in March 2020 and still continues to go through each and every day with her husband Derek.

The Power of Hope by Kate Garraway | Goodreads The Power of Hope by Kate Garraway | Goodreads

I did not want to put the book down as I wanted to find out what was going to happen next. I loved reading about who supported her through the tough times and how everyone came together for Kate and her family. And when I finished the book I just felt like I wanted a ‘now’ update. Firstly, they come across as a very loving couple/family, with Derek being the core part of this. He sounded like a very charismatic, northerner who enjoyed his life to the full with a very witty mind of intrigue.

Kate Garraway shares the raw and emotional story of the devastating impact that Covid-19 has had on her family - and how they are finding strength in hope. The book explained how he got ill, they weren’t sure it was Covid and then he progressively deteriorated. In a matter of a few days he was in a coma on a ventilator fighting for his life, then onto an ecmo it was touch & go if he would survive, and Kate tried her utmost to stay positive, whilst trying to be a good Mum. I think Kate shows, that trying to stay positive will help Derek to improve. It must be heartbreaking for her and her family to adapt to Derek ‘being the new norm’. I felt she has stoically dealt with this situation, and is learning a new norm. I do not think she has come across as self pitying, why me?, but even though she must feel broken at times her love for him & her children pushes her forward. I gave this a 5 stars or 10/10. I borrowed a copy of this book by Kate Garraway from BorrowBox the digital lending side of the local Library. I couldn't give it any less. In this VERY emotional account of the past year, Kate talks about the highs and lows. And how the power of Hope and people helped her, be there for their children. She recounts the story of Derek proposing to her, and when she found out she was expecting Darcy (their first child).

Books UK The Power Of Hope - Penguin Books UK

This is such a heartbreaking read. If you want a good cry, this is the book to make you have the said cry. Since publication, Derek (Kate’s husband) has come home, but he was the longest surviving patient of Covid. What is sad, is that even though he pulled through the Covid he has been left with considerable disabilities, including a minimal state of consciousness and he hasn’t pulled through (well only in small snippets). That in itself is worse than the Covid as it’s prolonged, and doctors aren’t sure how long it will last. Kate finished 2019 on Cloud 9, after the success of I’m A Celeb of that year. In January 2020, as the first cases of Covid were breaking, Kate (like probably the rest of us) dismissed it…I honestly felt like I was on the journey with them and was lost for words at multiple points in the book, whenever there was a tiny bit of hope in Derek’s progress I felt so positive, even though I knew the updates from his current state. Derek was hospitalised for over 12 months, and due to him contracting Covid in the early stages, unfortunately nothing was known about the what the future held for people and what treatments they were able to receive. Kate had to learn what all the medical terminology was, what the future may hold for her husband, and more importantly whether Kate could continue to be there for her children as well as her husband.