By Pamela McGowan

Last updated at 10:00, Friday, 24 April 2009

Opera stars Il Divo brought tears to the eyes of Penrith motor neurone disease sufferer Chrissy O’Neil when they made her dreams come true.

Chrissy O'Neil with opera group Il Divo

The 46-year-old, who lives near Penrith, was diagnosed with the condition – which damages the nervous system, leaving muscles wasted and weak – three years ago.

The disease leaves people unable to walk, talk or feed themselves and most sufferers die within two to five years of being diagnosed.

In the past few years Chrissy has been supported by her best friend of 20 years Edwina Scott-Russell, 57, of Bothel. They share a love for international opera heartthrobs Il Divo and have seen them live several times.

For Chrissy, who lives near Penrith, her dream has long been to meet the foursome. That’s why best friend Edwina stepped in to help make their latest concert excursion all the more special.

She contacted the Motor Neurone Disease Association, who arranged for her to meet the group before they went on stage.

When the surprise was finally sprung, Chrissy struggled to control her emotions.

“It took me ages to try to compose myself for the meeting and I kept bursting into tears. Their music has always touched me deeply but I admit that it was particularly poignant for both myself and Edwina. We had no idea whether I would be around to see them again,” she explained.

Even now she is struggling to believe that the dream meeting actually happened.

“Who could possibly have known that I would get to meet them, and even experience Urs Buhler and Sebastian Stienizambard having their arms around me? What utter bliss. I am such a lucky girl. It just goes to show that anything is possible, especially with a friend like Edwina,” she added.

But it wasn’t just Chrissy who went weak at the knees when they came face to face with the stars.

Edwina said she also got quite emotional: “They were so sincere and nice. It was lovely.

“I was trying to hold back the emotion for Chrissy’s sake but when I tried to take a photo my hand was shaking and one of their assistants took it for me.”

First published at 05:12, Friday, 24 April 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk