When Tom and Maryanne, both with Down Syndrome, married in July 1995, people criticized Linda Martin, Maryanne’s mother for allowing her ill child to such thing.
But they showed the world that love knows no boundaries, and two decades later, their love is still going strong.
Tommy and Maryanne first met in 1990 while working in a local training center for disabled people. Lindi Newman, Maryanne’s sister, set them up.
She remembers that the day they met, Maryanne came home with the biggest smile on her face. She was talking about him all day and asked her parents whether she could invite him for dinner.
They dated for one-and-half years before Tommy bought a toy ring and asked Linda if he could propose to her daughter.
Linda immediately said yes but she wanted them to do it properly. Linda took Tommy to a jewelry store to buy a fitting ring for Maryanne.
However, she faced a lot of criticism for letting her daughter do such a thing given that she is disabled. But she insisted that she will not come in their way and that it was their decision.
Newman said that anyone should have the right to love and marry without any discrimination or prejudice. She also shared a secret to the couple’s long run (23 years) in the marriage. She said that they don’t have any hidden agenda, their love for each other is pure and they are honest all the time.
Although their personalities complement each other, Tommy is reserved and quiet while Maryanne loves to talk.
They spend their time together going out for dinners, watching movies, and spending time with the family.
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