Carer who nursed Derek Draper by way of his well being battles says farewell
- Known solely as Jake, the carer had taken care of Derek since 2020
- Derek’s spouse Kate Garraway has beforehand paid tribute to his efforts
Among the handfuls of high-profile celebrities and stars who attended Derek Draper’s funeral, there was one essential one who has frequently saved a low profile.
The carer who nursed Derek by way of his courageous long-term well being battles with Covid was among the many crowd who wished him a closing farewell at his funeral as we speak.
Known solely as Jake, the carer is known to have performed a key position in taking care of Derek since he got here out of hospital in 2020.
He was pictured as we speak in a white shirt and black swimsuit strolling into the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Primrose Hill, an Anglican church within the unique London neighbourhood, the place Derek married his spouse Kate Garraway 18 years in the past.
Family, buddies and a bunch of A-listers gathered to recollect the New Labour lobbyist turned psychotherapist died aged 56 after an extended battle with Covid-19.
The carer, identified solely as Jake, is known to have performed a key position in taking care of Derek since he got here out of hospital in 2020. He was pictured as we speak in a white shirt and black swimsuit strolling into Derek’s funeral
Jake nursed Derek by way of his courageous long-term well being battles with Covid. Picture reveals the pair out for a stroll in March 2023
Jake got here alongside on the household journey to Windsor Castle the place Kate collected an MBE from Prince William in June. Kate mentioned she spoke to William about Jake
Kate gave a loving tribute on the ‘heart-wrenching’ occasion as we speak the place Sir Elton John decreased the congregation to tears with a track after Tony Blair gave the eulogy.
Derek was among the many first within the UK to fall critically in poor health with Covid-19 and was admitted to an intensive care unit because the nation entered lockdown in March 2020.
He was one of many nation’s longest-suffering Covid sufferers after being in hospital however by no means totally recovered after the virus left long-lasting injury to his organs and meant he wanted round the clock care.
Last February Kate shared a tribute to Jake on social media and shared an image of him with Derek.
Kate captioned her put up: ‘Many of you’ll bear in mind Jake who cared for Derek when he first got here out of hospital in April 21 – from the documentary #caringforderek, so you’ll know what an exquisite healthcare skilled he’s.
She continued: ‘But have simply discovered he is additionally a tremendous musician – below the identify @sencymiller.x – He’s simply launched a track referred to as okuseku (test it out in his bio) – which no shock is filled with love & inspiration to maintain going & by no means hand over.
‘The world of carers by no means fails to shock me with their depths of expertise , thoughtfulness and motivation #happyfriday all!’
Jake, who releases music below the identify Sency Miller, responded to her put up by writing: ‘Thank you a lot and it is a large privilege to be there for Derek.’
TV physician Amir Khan additionally commented, writing: ‘He is an excellent human’.
Kate shared a tribute to Jake on social media and shared an image of him with Derek in February final yr
Griefstricken Kate Garraway, stood subsequent her daughter Darcey, as household, buddies and colleagues mentioned goodbye to Derek Draper
Kate Garraway, together with her husband Derek Draper and her mother and father Gordon and Marilyn Garraway pose for a photograph after being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her companies to broadcasting, journalism and charity by Prince William
Derek had attended few public occasions over the previous few years however when he has accomplished it was normally with Jake.
Jake had been noticed taking care of Derek many occasions over the previous few years, together with a household journey to Windsor Castle the place Kate collected an MBE in June.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain after the occasion, Kate defined Prince William wished to go over and communicate to Derek in particular person.
‘He mentioned he desires to go over however he isn’t allowed to depart the rug, there is a very fancy gold carpet that he stands on,’ she defined.
‘So we turned and noticed after which clearly Derek was very tearful after which spoke about Jake and gave Jake a wave as nicely.’
Jake had additionally been pictured a number of occasions pushing Derek round in a wheelchair to offer the ex-political advisor some recent air.
During Derek’s lengthy battle with the virus he gained a lot consideration and help, together with from former prime minister Boris Johnson and the royal household.
At one level Doctors put him in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator and he was in hospital for 13 months earlier than being discharged in April 2021.
Kate defended Derek’s use of carers, saying with out them he ‘may die’ and declared that getting assist shouldn’t be a ‘luxurious’
In November Kate defended Derek’s use of carers on Loose Women, she mentioned: ‘If Derek did not have somebody caring for him he may die that day. We have to cease treating carers as a luxurious.’
The couple additionally spent ‘tens of hundreds of kilos’ adapting the household residence in London for Derek, which included the set up of ramps, a downstairs moist room and a makeshift downstairs bed room.
She additionally launched her guide, The Strength of Love: Embracing an Uncertain Future with Resilience and Optimism, during which she tells Derek’s story and the way it’s modified her and her household’s lives.
Derek suffered a coronary heart assault earlier than Christmas and by no means recovered. Kate revealed he died as she held his hand ‘all through the final lengthy hours and when he handed’ on January 3 aged 56 after struggling long-lasting signs from coronavirus.
