Source: The Illawarra Mercury [MICHELLE HOCTOR]

Gwynneville couple Warren and Tania Hayes are an example of the miracles that can happen when love is the guiding force.

Ten years ago Warren, then aged 29, was diagnosed with a brain tumour that would have killed him if not for his determination to be with his 22-year-old fiancee Tania.

For every moment of a 446-day life and death ordeal Tania was at Warren's side, completing a team that refused to be parted.

In April 1997, the couple were living a fairytale existence.

They owned their own home, enjoyed successful careers - Warren as a real estate agent and Tania as a legal secretary, they went on holidays and were planning a November wedding.

"We were always pinching ourselves saying, 'Life's too good'," Tania said.

Within an instant their idyllic world fell apart.

Warren suffered a temporary loss of vision while driving to work. Tests revealed he had an 8cm brain tumour that, while non-cancerous, was entangled in his brain stem and within millimetres of killing him.

A neurosurgeon explained that Warren had the choice of high risk surgery or dying within the week.

"We just looked at one another and said, 'We've got no choice'," Tania said.

"Through sickness and in health, we were always going to be there for each other."

The surgery left Warren paralysed down the right side, deaf in one ear, he had difficulties swallowing and couldn't close his left eye, but he was alive.

"By then I think the doctors were at the point of giving up. Warren's weight had dropped from 96kg to 56kg. He was on life support, couldn't eat, move or talk," Tania said.

When the doctor finally suggested Warren be placed in a nursing home, Tania made the extraordinary decision to take him home with her, to care for him around the clock.

Today, the couple's life is back on track. With the love and support of family and Warren's work colleagues from Wollongong's Martin Morris and Jones, who have been on a daily rehabilitation roster for the past 10 years, Warren regained the strength to fulfil their dream of marriage on March 10, 2002.

On June 10, 2005, they welcomed the birth of a miracle son Josh.

Last year Tania was awarded the Lady Cutler Carer of the Year Award for her devotion to Warren and his rehabilitation.

She became an ambassador for Carers Australia in 2006.

Warren said that despite feeling like "the unluckiest man in the world" for what he had been through, he also felt blessed to have Tania by his side and to see his son grow up.

"Without Tania, those dark days would have been far too painful to bear and I probably would have thrown in the towel."