When Kris and Paul said they wanted to get married, some people doubted that two people with Down syndrome could build a lasting marriage. They ultimately responded in the best possible way: by sharing 25 years of life together ❤️
They met in the 80s, and over time their friendship turned into love. They finally got married in 1993, surrounded by family and friends.
Their relationship challenged many of the prejudices that existed about people with intellectual disabilities, especially the idea that they couldn’t fall in love, make decisions about their romantic lives, or maintain a long-term relationship. Kris and Paul, by contrast, built their own routine, shared a home, and enjoyed for decades what they had chosen: being together.
Over the years, a much more difficult challenge arrived. Paul developed early-onset Alzheimer’s and had to receive specialized care. Kris continued visiting and accompanying him, and her family said that even when the disease had progressed, he seemed to recognize his wife’s presence.
Paul died in 2019, after 25 years of marriage. Kris lived another five years and died in 2024, but their story remained a simple response to those who had once thought they shouldn’t get married.
They were told that their marriage wasn’t a good idea. They didn’t need to convince anyone with words: they had 25 years to show how wrong those people had been. ❤️