This might not surprise you to know, but here at Tie the Knot Scotland we’re partial to a good love story – and when we heard about that of Pauline and Guy Lyons, we just couldn’t keep it to ourselves.
When Pauline and Guy first married five years ago, time was of the essence: Guy was undergoing treatment for lung cancer and had been given eighteen months to live. Having already lived together for almost twenty years, the couple decided that the time was right, and organised a small, intimate celebration in just three months. Guy was very ill, and had to go to bed shortly after the ceremony.
Amazingly he survived cancer, and is now five years in remission.
Pauline and Guy’s troubles didn’t end there, however. Unfortunately Guy suffered a stroke while on holiday in Belfast last year, and had to receive a thrombectomy, life-changing treatment not widely available in Scotland, without which he most likely would have died.
Instead, with the help of this operation, Guy has made a remarkable recovery. Charity Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS) is currently campaigning to have this vital treatment brought back to Scotland, a cause that Guy wholeheartedly supports.
“My thrombectomy was transformational following my near-fatal stroke, and I am only too aware that I would have died, or at least been left severely disabled, if I hadn’t been lucky enough to have had this procedure,” Guy explained. “All Scottish stroke patients should have access to this treatment.”
Aware of how lucky she and her husband had been to narrowly escape two life-threatening illnesses, Pauline decided to commemorate the fifth wedding anniversary she never thought they would be celebrating.
The couple chose to renew their wedding vows at Glasgow’s stunning Boclair House on Saturday 12th January in front of their family and friends. The ceremony involved Guy’s daughters and Pauline’s sister, and a professional singer also sang a moving rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
Pauline and Guy opted for a strict no-gifts policy, instead asking their guests to help raise money for two causes close to their hearts. Between them and their loved ones, they were able to raise a total of £1,000 to be split equally between Beatson Cancer Charity and CHSS.
As they say, the course of true love never did run smooth, but it sounds like Pauline and Guy have been able to make the best of incredibly difficult circumstances. We’d for one like to raise our glasses in a toast to this lovely couple and wish them all the best. Congrats!