Kris and Paul Scharoun-DeForge lived a real-life love story reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet—only theirs wasn’t forbidden by family, but by society’s long-held belief that people with Down syndrome couldn’t form mature romantic relationships, much less sustain a decades-long marriage.
Yet Kris and Paul proved everyone wrong. They showed the world that love can’t be limited, labeled, or boxed in.
Love is more than a feeling or a word—it’s an action, a force that inspires people to rise above obstacles and accomplish what others think is impossible. And few stories embody this better than Kris and Paul’s.
Both were diagnosed with Down syndrome as children. They met more than thirty years ago at a dance, where their connection was immediate. Kris later said that Paul changed her life, and that she saw her future in his eyes that very night.
Five years later, in 1994, they married. Their union lasted twenty-five years—one of the longest marriages ever recorded between two people with Down syndrome. Together, they became beloved figures in their community, challenging misconceptions and proving that people with developmental disabilities can and do experience deep, meaningful love.
Paul graduated high school, held several jobs, navigated public transportation with ease, and was even honored as ARC of Onondaga’s Person of the Year in 2013. Eventually, however, he developed Alzheimer’s and early-stage dementia, conditions more common among aging individuals with Down syndrome. Kris and her family petitioned the state to allow the couple to stay together in their Syracuse apartment with assisted care, but as Paul’s condition worsened, he had to move into a nursing facility.
Still, they cherished every moment they had left. On their 25th anniversary, while Kris recovered from pneumonia at Upstate University Hospital, they renewed their vows—both seated in wheelchairs, but smiling. Months later, they celebrated Valentine’s Day together while a singing group serenaded them. Kris hugged Paul tightly and hung a butterfly drawing and a heartfelt letter by his bed.
A few months after that Valentine’s Day, Paul passed away at age 56 due to complications from dementia and Alzheimer’s. Kris, now 59, lives on as his widow. Their extraordinary love story continues to inspire countless people and stands as a powerful reminder that true love knows no limitations.
