UK couple won’t let Down syndrome stand in the way of marriage

A sweet story out of the United Kingdom is reminding readers that a Down syndrome diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean you have to miss out on milestone moments — including getting married.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Aaron and Katie met as teens and reconnected in 2017 when they both enrolled with the same dance group.

• The two, who both have Down syndrome, dated for four years until Aaron proposed in 2021 and are now planning an Autumn wedding.

• In the UK, where the couple lives, preborn babies with Down syndrome can legally be aborted at any point during pregnancy.

THE DETAILS:

Childhood sweethearts Aaron Burke, 43, and Katie Acourt, 41, who both have Down syndrome, have rekindled their relationship, and now, they’re planning their wedding.

The story shared in story explains that the couple first met at Carlshoulton College in 2000 when they were 18 and 16. There, they connected while participating in programs for people with learning disabilities. They then lost touch and didn’t see each other again until 2017, when both joined the same dancing group. After dating for four years, Aaron proposed in 2021. They are now planning a wedding for September 2025.

The couple is supported by Katie’s sister, Kim, and her aunt, Julia.

READ: ‘Second Chance’: Family of pregnant mom declared brain-dead wants baby boy to survive

“They’ve grown back together again, and they idolize each other. After their engagement we had two dos for them – we do as much as we can for them,” said Julia.

She told Your Local Guardian, “Katie’s always wanted to be a bride. We’ve been looking at dresses and she’s got the one. She’s a happy little bunny, and we’re doing the wedding now.”

Katie first had trouble deciding on a dress, because she liked them all, but eventually found her dream dress. “I know what I’m like with wedding dresses, every dress I put on makes me feel like I’m in a film,” she said.

Aaron emphasized his love for Katie, saying, “I fell so much in love over time. We like to go out for a drink and a meal together. And we like to go and watch films at the cinema. Katie is pretty, I love cuddling up together. I adore her.”

The couple is planning a traditional wedding and hopes to travel to the Caribbean for their honeymoon. They will live together in a supported living arrangement in South London.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

Though Aaron and Katie haven’t let a Down syndrome diagnosis stand in the way of their dream of getting married, parents are often encouraged to abort preborn children who have Down syndrome, simply because their lives may be different. In the UK, discriminatory abortion for such a diagnosis is allowed through all nine months of pregnancy — well beyond the country’s standard 24-week limit. Although people with Down syndrome often need additional help and support, as Aaron and Katie show, they can lead full, meaningful lives.