Wife in ‘world’s longest Down syndrome marriage’ shares tales of unconditional love as husband dies after 26 years of wedded bliss
Kris Scharoun-DeForge, an American woman with Down syndrome, lost her husband in April 2019 after 26 years of marriage.
She recently spoke about "how we was the only one for her" as family and friends gathered at a lake near New York's Adirondack Mountains to pay tribute to Paul Scharoun-DeForge, who died after a long battle with Alzheimer.
Kris married Paul five years after meeting him in 1988 as they became one of the first couples in the world with Down syndrome to tie the knot.
"I proposed to him. I whispered in his ear, "Would you marry me?" she told CBS as she spoke about their incredible bond.
"And he looked up at me with this big beautiful smile and he shook his head, Yes! And that's when I knew...he got me laughing, he was the one for me."
Both Kris and Paul were born with Down syndrome and it was love at first sight when they met at a dance for disabled people.
Kris' sister Susan said the couple had to face stiff resistance right at the start but hoped it would now be easier for people with disabilities to do things that able-minded people could do.
"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," Susan said.
"What I hope is that other families will entertain this, you know, other people will recognize the importance of this kind of intimate love."
A portion of Paul's ashes was spread near the lake he loved to fish.
"People like us need to have a chance. A chance to find the man of your dreams, like I did," Kris remarked.
"I just lost the man that I love, but I'm going to try," she added when asked if she could love someone again.
According to Mail Online, it was an arduous task for them as it took five long years for them to win the right to marry from New York state officials.
The couple was forced to take tests of their sexual knowledge and feelings to prove they were able to consent to the marriage.
In 2018, they celebrated 25 years of marriage on August 13 by renewing their vows.
Their relatives believe their marriage was the longest between two people with Down syndrome condition
A eulogy read by a relative during Paul's funeral expressed how lucky Paul believed he was.
"To an outsider, it may not seem that way — but to those of us who knew and loved him, it's absolutely true," it read.
"They are role models for everybody who wants a good relationship," Susan told the Washington Post.
"They were a team. They deferred to each other and looked out for each other."
The couple lived together in an apartment in a state-supported sheltered housing project for people with disabilities.
Both had jobs, Paul worked at the Arc of Onondaga, an organization for people with disabilities, and Kris at Pizza Hut before moving to the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.
Paul began showing symptoms of Alzheimer's last year, but both still were able to share Sunday dinners at Susan's home.
"Little by little, you do get used to having them less there," Susan said.
"He was still a part of the family, but you could tell he didn't really recognize people."
However, Paul had no trouble remembering his sweetheart.