Two middle-aged men fell in love, both underwent a full sex change operation and are going to tie the knot as women… Kaboom!
Parma Bertoli, 59, and partner Stephanie Nickles, 43, met in 2004 and started a relationship when they were still men. Both of them underwent a full sex change and were going to marry soon but their plans were thwarted by a terrible disease.
Parma was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour last October and was given less than 18 months to live. Nevertheless the couple is not going to give up the idea, they are now appealing for help and donations to make their dream wedding come true.
Parma said: “Steph and I got together when we were both men in 2004 and lived together as men. Steph was in pre-op so was living as a woman and I made the change soon after. Today we are still in love as women.
To us, gender is not an issue in our relationship. We are just two people who met and tried to help each other along. I know I have a very limited amount of time left but it would mean the world to both of us to get married – it would be absolutely brilliant.”
Stephanie, who has two grown-up children from a previous marriage and who gave up her modelling career to care for Parma, said, “It was a struggle every day, not knowing if she is going to wake up.
To get married would be such a huge thing for us and would make our lives whole in a way. We want to get married because we love each other and we are not sure if Parma will be here next year.”
