There are many people who get married despite the fact that critics may doubt their ability to stay married for the long term. This often happens when we get married quickly or perhaps we are young and people don’t think we are yet responsible enough for the bond.
In 1995, there was a young couple who also were doubted but they ended up getting married and they stayed married for 25 years. They also were the first couple with Down syndrome in the UK to become husband and wife.
These days, we hear about people who have Down syndrome getting married on a regular basis. At that time, however, it was unheard of and it was the first time in the world that a couple with Down syndrome said I do.
Just like any other disability, however, those with Down syndrome have the ability to beat the odds, and certainly, that is what Tommy and Maryanne Pilling did. In fact, they are an inspiration to many who wonder if they have what it takes.
Maryanne was born in 1971. Her mother, Linda Martin, provided her with a loving atmosphere at home and she also had a sister who loved her as well. There were still times, however, when she struggled in life and she was even rejected by her father.
Since she was raised in a loving household, however, she grew up to be a very loving woman. It was easy to see in her lively personality.
Tommy was born in 1958 and was an only child. When he was 12 years old, he became an orphan and he grew up in a care home in Essex. He did have delayed development because of a lack of a support system, and he didn’t care much for his physical appearance.
When the two of them met in 1990, they were working in a kitchen in a training home for disabled individuals. He was 32 and she was 19 at the time.
It was easy to see how Maryanne felt about Tommy because she would absolutely light up when she spoke about him. They shared a number of common interests, such as music, cooking, movies, and doing craftwork.
Tommy also loved Elvis Pressley and the two of them would dance together on a regular basis. He would also let her know how much he loved her, and eventually, the family got accustomed to having him around.
18 months after they started dating, he proposed to her and asked her mother for permission to marry her daughter. The mother didn’t hesitate, she gave her blessings right away.
Other people, however, were not quite so positive about the idea of the two of them getting married. Some said that she wasn’t ready for it and some even asked about their sex life.
Despite the fact that they were criticized openly, they got married in 1995. 250 people came to the wedding, which was a fairytale for them.
They lived together with her family for seven years before moving into their own apartment next door. Her sister also moved along with them.
They have a very strong bond because he listens carefully when she speaks. There is never any type of hidden agenda and they love each other with their whole hearts.
Unfortunately, Tommy was hospitalized in 2020 after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and then got COVID. Due to his declining health, he passed away. That was on January 1, 2021.
When the news was broken to her, she seemed to understand but still was a little confused about the situation. We are just glad that they had almost 30 years together, and they loved each other till the end.
I Discovered 13 Mysterious Candles and My Photo in My MIL’s Basement—The Shocking Truth
I Discovered 13 Mysterious Candles and My Photo in My MIL’s Basement—The Shocking Truth
It was just supposed to be a regular family celebration—my mother-in-law’s birthday. But when I went into the basement, I found something shocking: a ritual that made me question everything, especially the woman who raised my husband.
Honestly, this was wild! My mother-in-law has really lost it!
So, here’s what happened.
It was Jane’s birthday party. The whole family was there, and everything seemed fine. People were laughing, drinks were flowing, and she was acting sweet and welcoming.
You know, typical family stuff. I had only been married to Willis for a month, so I was still figuring out the whole in-law situation and trying to get along. But if someone had told me earlier what I was about to find, I would have thought they were joking.
Willis and I were in the living room with the guests when Jane, my mother-in-law, casually mentioned we were out of wine.
“Chelsea, dear, could you and Willis go down to the basement and get some bottles for the guests?” she asked, smiling in that warm but slightly forced way she always did. I didn’t think much of it, so I nodded and followed Willis downstairs.
The moment we stepped into the basement, something felt off. Maybe it was the musty smell, the dim lighting, or just a feeling deep in my gut telling me to leave. There was an eerie silence that hung in the air like a bad sign. I glanced at Willis, but he seemed completely unaware of anything unusual.
He walked straight to the wine rack, chatting about how his mom loved a good Chardonnay, while I lingered by the stairs, looking around. That’s when I saw it.
In the far corner of the basement, past the shelves of old family albums and dusty boxes, was a small table. On it sat a framed photo of… me.
“Uh, Willis?” I called out, my voice a bit shaky.
“What’s up?” he replied, still focused on grabbing a bottle.
“There’s a picture of me over here…”
He stood up, holding two bottles of wine, and walked over, looking confused. I pointed to the table, and that’s when he noticed it too.
“Why is your picture here?” he muttered. That’s when I spotted the candles.
Thirteen candles. Eight were lined up in front of my photo, one in each corner of the room, and one right in the center, right on the floor.
“What the hell?” I whispered, feeling my stomach drop. “Why are there candles? And why are they all around my photo?”
Willis blinked, just as shocked. “I…I don’t know. This is weird.”
“Weird?” I snapped, my voice rising. “This is more than weird, Willis! This is freakin’ creepy!”
I rushed to the table, my heart racing with questions. Why would Jane have a picture of me like this? Was it some sort of ritual? A strange family tradition? Or something darker?
I turned to Willis, my heart pounding, feeling like I had stepped into a horror movie. His face was pale, and his eyes were wide with disbelief, as if he had seen something much worse than just a weird setup of candles and my photo.
“Willis,” I whispered, barely able to speak. “What… What is this? What’s happening?”
He didn’t respond right away. He just stood there, staring at the candles, his breathing shallow. I could see the panic building in his eyes, the kind of fear that freezes you.
“Willis?” I repeated, my voice trembling. “Please, talk to me.”
Finally, he turned to me, his lips parting slightly, but no words came out. After what felt like forever, he spoke, his voice hoarse and shaky. “I… I think my mother’s been using a spell,” he stammered.
“A curse?” My stomach dropped. “What are you talking about?”
He took a deep breath, clearly struggling with whatever awful truth he was about to share. “My grandmother… she was into all this—this dark stuff. Witchcraft, curses, spells. I—I never believed it, but…”
He ran a hand through his hair, his voice almost breaking. “She taught my mom everything. And I think—Chelsea, I think my mom’s been trying to curse you.”
I stared at him, my mind racing. “Curse me? For what?”
I blinked, and there it was: positive.
“Willis!” I shouted, barely able to contain my excitement. “Willis, come here!”
He rushed in, panic flashing across his face. “What? What’s wrong?”
I held up the test, my hands shaking. “I’m pregnant,” I whispered, tears spilling down my cheeks.
For a moment, he just stared at me, his mouth hanging open in shock. Then his face broke into the biggest smile I had ever seen.
“You’re—wait, we’re—” He stammered, pulling me into a hug so tight I could barely breathe. “We’re having a baby?!”
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