Couple who share rare ageing disorder celebrate transatlantic Valentine's Day
A couple who are battling a rare genetic disorder will celebrate Valentine’s Day today – eight years after they defied medical odds to walk down the aisle.
Love blossomed when Amy Hughes, 26, from Wallasey, Merseyside, and Nick Jaminet, 25, from Texas, met in 2006 at a medical conference in Boston.
Their transatlantic romance faced more obstacles than most because the couple both have the debilitating premature ageing disorder, Cockayne Syndrome.
They walked down the aisle in 2010 to have their relationship blessed during a wedding-style ceremony.
Although they are now unable to communicate with each other because the progressive illness has taken away their speech and hearing, their families hope they will be re-united later this year.
Amy’s mum, Jayne, said:
Jayne and Nick’s mum, Jennifer Jaminet, said the exchange of rings and blessing gave Amy and Nick, who both have shortened life expectancies, an insight into a normal life experience.
The couple met when Amy was 14 and Nick 13.
In 2009, Amy said:
Nick proposed to Amy in 2007 in Disney World, Florida, on a trip organised by the charity Caudwell Children, which gives children and young people with life-limiting conditions the opportunity to enjoy a dream holiday.
The charity then arranged a surprise trip to the UK for Nick to celebrate the proposal and make wedding plans.
Amy had 13 bridesmaids and eight pageboys at the ceremony at St David’s Hotel, Queensferry, and the couple walked down the aisle to Take That’s Rule the World.
Generous well-wishers donated items for the wedding including a tiara, cakes, balloons and dresses.
Jayne added: