Snuggled up on the sofa with his inspirational fiancée and their two miracle children, Tommy Smith feels like the luckiest man on the planet.
Last year his wife-to-be, Lucy Lintott, 26, made history when she became the first person in the world to give birth twice after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Tommy, 26, is in constant awe of his courageous partner, who keeps defying the medics who gave her a maximum of 18 months to live – eight years ago.
Speaking ahead of a new fly-on-the wall documentary which follows the couple on their path to parenthood, Tommy said it is the strong bond they share that has allowed them to conquer all.
He also talked candidly for the first time about his paralysing fear of losing his beloved Lucy – the youngest person in Scotland to be diagnosed with MND – and their children during labour.
The apprentice plumber, who lives with his family in Elgin, Moray, said: “Lucy is naturally amazing. She has got a lot of boss and makes me proud to be her partner.
“She has so much courage to get up every day and live the way she does.
“Having to ask someone to do everything for you must be the worst thing in the world but she has an acceptance of her condition.
“I love everything about her, from her massive smile to her amazing eyes but most of all I love the way she bosses being a mum.”
Lucy was one of only five MND patients to become mothers when she had their son in February 2020. Then in December last year she made history when their daughter was born.
Doctors were unsure how Lucy’s muscles would react during labour or whether her uterus would cope with the birth so having children was a terrifying leap of faith for the young couple.
Tommy said: “When Lucy was diagnosed with MND at 19, she was told it would end her hopes of becoming a mum. But when it became clear her illness was progressing slowly, we decided to try for the family.
“If you are told there is a deadline to have kids, you want to do everything in your power to have them but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t terrified.
“When LJ was born, it looked like there was going to be a single parent scenario so there was that fear with the second. Lucy knew it too but I never spoke it out loud.
“I’ve never seen anyone fight like that in my life. I couldn’t be more proud of her. Having children is uncharted territory for someone with MND. Lucy has laid a path for others to follow.”
Tommy, who has helped Lucy raise more than £200,000 to help find a cure for MND, added: “She took to motherhood like a duck to water. This was the job she was destined to do. I just love watching her with LJ and AR and the pure love she has in her eyes.
"A lot of people did write her off and said she would not be able to do it. She has proved them all wrong. She is a fantastic mum.”
Tommy was in the year below Lucy at school and they had crushes on each other. But nothing happened until he suddenly came back into her life in 2018 when he shaved his head to raise money for MND.
The couple, whose heartwarming documentary Being Mum With MND goes out on BBC Scotland at 10pm on Tuesday, May 3, fell in love and Tommy proposed two years ago.
They had originally planned an extravagant wedding bash but have opted instead for a low-key service next month at Inchberry Hall in Fochabers, Moray, with 50 guests after Covid forced them to cancel twice.
Lucy said: “Tommy is my partner in crime. He brought my walls down and got me to be me. He did not see my MND so I didn’t have to protect myself as he understood what he was getting himself into. He is a great dad and has given me the family I had always wished for.
“I’ve been ready forever to marry Tommy. Now I’ve got the family I always wanted, it doesn’t matter how I get down the aisle as long as I do. I’m so grateful and take every day as it comes.
“I don’t know how long I have left and, because of that, we seize every moment.”
Tommy added: “I’m really looking forward to finally tying the knot with Lucy.”
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