A lesbian couple who decided to get married in every country where same-sex marriage is legal have had their dream cut tragically short, after one of them was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Artist Fleur Pierets, 44, and her Belgian partner Julian P Boom, 39, who live in Los Angeles, began their globe-trotting romantic journey in September 22 2017 after they were married in the Big Apple.
However, the couple received the devastating news that Dutch-born Julian had just months to live in December, shortly after they wed – their fourth marriage – in France.
Fleur Pierets and her partner Julian P Boom, from Los Angeles, revealed how their plan to wed in 22 countries around the world to highlight marriage inequality has been tragically cut short
Dutch-born Julian, left, was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the brain and heart after she fell in December
The couple were four weddings in to their global matrimonial tour when Julian, who had previously battled breast cancer, was taken ill in France, where she currently remains because she’s too ill to fly home
Now, Fleur has revealed that her wife is too ill to travel and the couple remain in France, where Julian was diagnosed with tumours in her brain and heart.
Fleur told the Mirror the way their adventure had been cut short was a ‘terrible shock’ as she explained how the illness has quickly taken hold.
She said: ‘Things are going really fast now; she has already lost her memory completely and is unable to move her limbs. Her brain “forgot” that they are there.’
Fleur and Julian first met at a party in Amsterdam in 2011 and quickly fell in love, working on multiple artistic projects together.
’22: The Project’ looked set to be their most important collaboration as they embarked on a tour of 22 countries in a bid to shine a light on marriage inequality around the globe.
However, their adventure will end in France, where Julian is being cared for at Fleur’s mother’s house.
Fleur said the last few weeks following the diagnosis had been a ‘nerve-wracking nightmare’ in which she has watched her partner deteriorate and fears she may not wake up every time she goes to sleep.
She said: “Since they couldn’t do anything for her anymore in the hospital, and she was too sick to repatriate, I took her back to my mother’s house here in France, where I’m currently taking care of her.’
A fundraising campaign has been set up to help the couple pay for care that isn’t covered by insurance.