The first couple in the world to get married with Down Syndrome are still happy and inseparable… some 27 years later.
According to Metro, Gareth and Deana crossed paths for the first time in their local community center in Cumbria, England, back in 1981. Gareth was only 17 at the time, Deana 19.
Fast forward to the present and the pair have been in love for almost three decades.
“I put up with Deana,” Gareth says, “and she puts up with me.”
Deana explained to Metro that she was first attracted to Gareth by the stunning mop of red hair he had.
“I thought “he’s ginger”. I like gingers. He had a beard at the time as well. A red one.”
She added: ‘I’m ginger as well.”
Gareth, on the other hand, admitted he was an in demand bachelor when he first fell for Deana. He told Metro: “Before I met Deana I had three girlfriends. I chose the right one, and that’s Deana.”
The doting duo initially started off as good friends. Their families didn’t understand how serious things were between them until 10 years later.
Gareth’s mother, 80-year-old Anne, said: “We didn’t know an awful lot about their relationship until they started talking about getting married.”
The two sweethearts qwere married back in 1992, making their union the longest of any couple with Down syndrome.
Deana said: ‘I still love him. Look at him now, he’s like an old man.’
