A couple with Down syndrome in the United Kingdom is living proof that love knows no boundaries.
When Maryanne and Tommy Pilling, both with Down syndrome, tied the knot in July 1995, some people criticized Maryanne’s mother, Linda Martin, for allowing them to get married. But 24 years later, their love is still going strong.
After dating for 18 months, Tommy bought a plastic ring from a vending machine and asked Martin if he could propose.
“My mom immediately said yes but wanted them to do it properly so took him to a jewelry shop to buy a proper ring,” Newman recalled. “She received a lot of flak at the time for letting them get married but she insisted it was their decision.”
Soon after the wedding, Maryanne’s mother, Linda, was criticized for getting the couple married.
As per the Mirror, the couple, who have been married for 24 years now, have renewed their vows twice since they got married.
Though the couple has an age difference of 13 years, their personalities complement each other—Maryanne loves to talk, while Tommy is reserved and quiet. The couple often enjoys their couple time together, such as watching movies, going out for dinner, going to theme parks, and spending time with family.
Talking about Tommy always lights up Maryanne’s face and she tells him three times a day that she loves him, as per Committed Podcast.
The couple also lives independently in their own apartment, close to Linda’s house.
However, in recent years, Tommy has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and continues to show early signs of it. Linda shared in a podcast: “At the moment, we just say that Tommy is getting older and he forgets things, and he needs a bit more care.”
“And that is enough for Maryanne to deal with at the moment. We go on a day-to-day basis. So at this moment, baby steps,” she further added.
Newman hopes Maryanne and Tommy’s story will inspire others.
“Anything is possible with love and there should be no limitations for anyone, no matter what their circumstances are,” she said.
