Jessica Taylor walks down the aisle to marry Samuel Bearman in Upnor

It was the moment she dreamt of – but one she thought would never happen. 
Kent Online | Published:  12:00, 05 May 2017 |  
By Nicola Jordan

Jessica Taylor, who was struck down with a debilitating illness 11 years ago which has meant she has been confined to a wheelchair, walked down the aisle to marry her sweetheart on Saturday. After falling in love with Samuel Bearman, the 26-year-old embarked on a gruelling course of physiotherapy in her determination to make it to the altar without her specially adapted chair. Guests gasped in amazement as she held her father Colin’s arm to step into St Philip and St James Church in Upnor. Then, hand in hand, she exchanged vows with Samuel, 25, who she met through a mutual friend.

The Cliffe Woods resident was just 14 and a promising pupil at Rochester Grammar School when she was diagnosed with myalgic encephalopathy, known as ME. She was captain of the netball team and was predicted the straight A grades she needed to go to university to study English.
By the time she was 15, chronic fatigue meant she was too ill to go to school and had to be cared for by mum Kate at the family home in Woodside Green.

Since then she has spent much of her time in and out of hospital and has developed numerous complications, including osteoporosis which has left her bones weak. But after Samuel popped the question, Jessica was on a mission to build up her strength and muscles for her big day.
Vicar Sue Vallente-Kerr has known Jessica for six years and is a regular visitor to her home.

She told the congregation: “It is an amazing privilege to marry this couple and amazing to see Jessica walk down the aisle. I can see a few teary eyes out there.” After the service, her proud mum Kate said: “She is truly inspirational.”
The couple are planning to go on a cruise of the Norwegian fjords for their honeymoon.

Speaking on Sunday, Jessica described her mission to walk down the aisle unaided as “a big ask”.
Her illness has taken its toll on her over the years and she admitted that, despite her intense physiotherapy, she nearly fainted several times in church.
But she said: “I was determined to do it. Once I have decided something, I put my all into it. I had to make it happen.

“It was so worth it. Samuel was very proud of me.”

Jessica runs the Share a Star charity which aims to support youngsters with serious or life threatening conditions and has written a book, A Girl Behind Dark Glasses, about living with ME.

© KM Group 2017
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/inspirational-jessicas-wedding-dream-comes-125147/