FOR most of us a proposal from a partner is something we have to wait years for but for Jeanna Lyons it was a matter of weeks.
And even more unusually the mum-of-three, 66, from Nevada, USA, had not yet met the man of her dreams, agreeing to marry him when he was still a stranger.
Jeanna was added on Facebook by Felix Maduku, 36, from Nigeria, out of the blue and sparks flew between the pair despite their 30-year age gap and 13,000km distance.
She then flew to Nigeria and secretly married Felix after meeting the first time, before telling her family hours later.
Sadly, Felix has been accused of being a scammer, and using Jeanna for a visa, but they couple insist they’re in love and happier than ever.
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Speaking exclusively to Fabulous, Jeanna says: “It’s awful how much hate age gap couples get. Especially ones that are long distance like me and Felix.
“People thought I was crazy, and called Felix some terrible things, but we have since proven everyone wrong.
“I hope my story shows that no matter what, everyone should follow their heart. I did and it led me to the love of my life.”
In 2017, Jeanna was 61, had three children in their 30s, and was juggling two jobs as an imaging technologist at different hospitals in Nevada.
Jeanna says: “Although I was in my 60s, I’d never been married because no-one had captured my heart in that way.
“Instead, my work, my kids and my grandchild had been my entire life. By then, I’d lost faith in love and marriage.”
But four months later Jeanna received a Facebook friend request from a stranger, Felix.
Jeanna says: “I saw he lived in Nigeria. I scrolled through his photos and thought he looked very young, certainly decades younger than me.
“As he was a complete stranger from across the world, I was ready to ignore his request.
“But then he messaged saying he’d been reading my posts in a Facebook group we were both in.
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“He was struggling with forgiveness after his brother had been murdered, and his ex-girlfriend tragically died too.
“My heart went out to him. We got chatting about life, love, gratitude, and forgiveness. I felt a deep connection with him.”
Soon, Jeanna discovered Felix was 31, 30 years younger than her.
But as he’d dealt with such tragedies in his life, she loved his maturity and began to fall in love with him.
Jeanna says: “I confided in him about me caring for my daughter who had multiple sclerosis, and he was supportive.
“We video-called every day and agreed that the soul never ages. I felt like I’d known him a lifetime.
“I soon told my kids about my internet crush and they went mad. They told me he was a catfish and that he was using me.
“I told them all to mind their own business. Although I knew they were just looking out for me, it was infuriating.
“I wasn’t stupid enough to be fooled by a fake account online. What Felix and I had was real.”
Just four weeks after their first message exchange, Felix proposed to Jeanna with a diamond ring GIF.
Jeanna says: “When I saw it, I thought he was mad. Who proposes after four weeks?
“I kept telling him he was crazy, and he said let’s leave it up to fate and destiny.
“Reluctantly, I told the kids about it and they were adamant he was using me for my money, or a visa.
“I told them he loved me and they were wrong.
“After that, our love grew stronger and we realised how much we meant to each-other. Six months later, I accepted his proposal.”
The engaged couple began planning to meet up right away.
But Felix couldn’t afford the flights, and told Jeanna Nigerians couldn’t visit America without visas.
Jeanna had too many responsibilities at home with her kids and had no annual leave left too.
But to qualify for marriage, her and Felix had to meet within two years.
Finally, in January 2020, two years after getting engaged, she booked her flights to Nigeria.
Jeanna says: “By then we decided Felix would apply for a spousal visa as it was the only way we could have a future together.
“We decided to get married during our first meeting.
“After booking my flights, I knew my kids would be nothing but negative about the wedding.
“So I decided not to tell them, and elope in secret.
“My work colleagues were mortified and told me I’d get kidnapped. I shrugged it off at first but on the flight there I got worried too. Felix had told me how dangerous it was.”
When Jeanna arrived, the couple embraced each-other at the airport.
Jeanna says: “Kissing Felix was wonderful. I felt like I’d known him all my life.
“His family lived in Delta State but he didn’t let me meet them as it was too dangerous. They had ritual slayings there.
“It was hard to imagine such dangers were so close by.
“Instead, I booked us a nice hotel in the capital, Abuja. It had 24-hour guards outside, to keep us safe.”
Days later, Jeanna and Felix married at a courthouse.
When they returned to their hotel, Jeanna nervously sent her family photos of the wedding ceremony.
Jeanna says: “They were shocked and upset, they told me they didn’t like secrets but I told them it was my turn to be happy.
“After that, Felix and I barely left the hotel, watched films and chatted all day and night. I had the time of my life.
“But again, family members messaged me about him being a scammer and gossiped about our spousal visas. It was very hurtful but I decided not to care.”
Jeanna returned home and since then, Felix’s visa has been approved.
They haven’t seen each-other since the wedding, but he’s planning to relocate next year.
Jeanna says: “My family have since come around more.
My children, and my little grandson, have all spoken to Felix on Facetime and they like him.
“I loved Nigeria because there, no-one cared about race, age gaps or money. Yet at home, criticism is rife.
“But none of it matters to Felix and me. We are blissfully happy and that’s all that matters.
“Age truly is just a number and distance should never matter either.”
