A widow with Down syndrome has shared her heartbreak after her husband of 26 years passed away.

It was in 1988 when Kris and Paul Scharoun-DeForge became one of the first couples with Down syndrome to tie the knot.

Sadly, Paul died aged 56 after battling against Alzheimer’s disease.

Kris, now 59, has opened up about their relationship to encourage others with genetic disorder to follow their hearts.

The got married in 1993 after Kris proposed to Paul

“I proposed to him. I whispered in his ear, ‘Would you marry me?’, and he looked up at me with this big beautiful smile and he shook his head ‘Yes!’, and that’s when I knew,” she told CBS.

“He got me laughing, he was the one for me.”

Even though Kris never had second thoughts with their decision, it seemed like people was not so accepting of their marriage. It took them five long years to win the right to tie the knot and had to take numerous tests pertaining to feelings and sex to prove they could consent to marriage.

Kris’ sister, Susan, said: “Yeah, there really was quite a bit of resistance. There was a feeling that it was like children getting married versus two very capable adults.

“What I hope is that other families will entertain this, you know, other people will recognise the importance of this kind of intimate love.”

Friends and family fathered at New York’s Adirondack Mountains to pay tribute to Paul.

When asked whether she thought she could love again, Kris answered: “I just lost the man that I love, but I’m going to try.

“People like us need to have a chance. A chance to find the man of your dreams, like I did.”

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this post with your family and friends!