Proposal as teens with special needs re-unite after six months apart

Boy, 16, with autism asks his girlfriend with the condition to marry him ‘one day’ in sweet proposal when they were reunited after six months apart due to Covid-19

• Steven Bagley and Lillie Dodd, from Colwyn Bay, North Wales, both have autism
• Steven also has ADHD and Lillie suffers from rare chromosome disorder
• But they re-united this month at a restaurant and Steven got down on one knee 

A 16-year-old boy touchingly proposed to his girlfriend on the day the pair re-united after being forced apart for six months because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Steven Bagley and Lillie Dodd, from Colwyn Bay, North Wales, who both have autism, have been smitten since they met at school last year and have been an item ever since.

While shielding they could not see each other for six months but had up to five video calls a day to keep in touch. 

Their families formed a ‘bubble’ to enable the pair to meet up for a date – and Steven got down on one knee with a ring to ask if Lillie would marry him ‘in the future’.

Lillie, who also suffers from type 1 diabetes and a rare genetic condition which limits her physical movement, instantly said yes to Steven, who also has ADHD.

Sixteen-year-old Steven Bagley touchingly proposed to his girlfriend Lille Dodd, also 16, on the day the pair re-united at a local restaurant near their homes in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, after six months apart because of the coronavirus pandemic

Lillie, who also suffers from type 1 diabetes and a rare genetic condition which limits her physical movement, instantly said yes to Steven, who also has ADHD

Lillie’s mother, Emma Dodd, 51, a school transport escort, said: ‘They absolutely adore each other.

‘They’re very much in love, in their own little world, and they love spending time together. During lockdown they were missing each other terribly.

‘They definitely bounce off each other, and both having autism, they also know how to support each other.’

Ms Dodd said Lillie is thought to be the only person in the UK with her exact condition, a chromosome abnormality which is so rare it does not have a name. 

Humans ordinarily have 46 chromosomes, with each cell normally containing 23 pairs.

However, Lillie, who also has learning difficulties which are linked to the condition, has three copies of chromosome number 19, rather than two.  

 Lillie’s mum, Emma Dodd, 51, a school transport escort, said: ‘They absolutely adore each other. They’re very much in love, in their own little world, and they love spending time together’

The physical impact of the abnormality means she cannot produce tears and has difficulty walking because she has low muscle tone.  

The teenager also has an overactive bladder because its muscles do not work properly, meaning that she needs to wear a catheter to collect her urine.   

She and Steven met in February 2019 at the special needs school they both attend and they’ve been together ever since.

The lovebirds met for lunch at a local restaurant, where Steven proposed, on August 12.

Emma said: ‘Their relationship is very innocent.

 Lillie’s mother said the teenager is thought to be the only person in the UK with her exact condition, a chromosome abnormality which is so rare it does not have a name. Pictured: Her and Steven after his proposal

 She and Steven met in February 2019 at the special needs school they both attend and they’ve been together ever since

‘They both need a lot of support, and they always will – but it’s lovely to hear them making plans for the future.

‘It’s so nice to see Lillie happy with Steven, and to have that little bit of normality in both their lives.

‘Even though their relationship is unique to them, and is different to other relationships, it’s lovely that they are able to be together.

‘And of course, it would be a beautiful love story if they did end up getting married!’

WHAT IS A CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITY? 

A chromosome disorder occurs when there is a change in the number or structure of chromosomes.

In each cell, DNA is packaged into thread-like structures called chromosomes.

Humans have 46 chromosomes, with each cell normally containing 23 pairs. 

The 23rd pair is the sex chromosomes, which differ between men and women. 

Some chromosomal abnormalities are harmless, however, others lead to disease.

Half of all miscarriages are said to be due to a chromosomal abnormality.

The most severe disorders are caused by the loss or gain of a whole chromosome.

These are usually fatal, with hundreds or even thousands of genes being affected.

Down’s Syndrome is an example of a non-fatal condition that occurs when a person has an extra chromosome in their 21st pair. 

If the chromosome affected is small or contains relatively few genes, the person’s developed may be stunted.

Structural abnormalities occur when large sections of DNA are missing or added to a chromosome.

Examples include Prader-Willi syndrome, which comes about when there is a deletion on chromosome 15.

This results in sufferers having an insatiable appetite.

Chromosomal abnormalities occur when there is an error in cell division.

This tends to take place in the egg or sperm, but can happen during embryo development or be inherited from a parent.

The risk increases as a mother gets older. 

Source: Your Genome

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