When partners Christine Ridout and Stuart Lewis first started dating in summer 2020, they knew they wanted to marry each other. However, they never imagined a devastating diagnosis would see them in a race against time to make their wedding day.
The pair, who both worked at former mental health hospital Ty Catrin, quickly became inseparable after a mutual colleague turned matchmaker and suggested they'd be great together. But tragically just 18-months-later, 45-year-old Stuart became terminally ill. He began experiencing the symptoms of what was later diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of Motor Neurone disease.
The rare condition affects the brain and nerves, causing weakness that gets worse over time. According to the NHS, ALS significantly shortens life expectancy and eventually leads to death. The rare condition affects the brain and nerves, causing weakness that gets worse over time. According to the NHS, MND significantly shortens life expectancy and eventually leads to death.
