If you lost your arms, what would your partner do?

Love really can conquer all, with the successful marriage of one of Australia’s “most popular couples” proof a strong bond can weather any storm.

In 2002 Gayle Shann had one arm torn off and the other crushed when her glove caught in a post-hole digger on her Central Queensland property.

The accident made her reliant on husband Mac to manage everything from their cattle and horse breeding businesses to her day-to-day care.

When the couple first shared their ordeal in a 2003 Australian Story episode, viewers were captivated by the pair’s resilience and in 2006 went on to vote their story the most popular in the show’s history.

Fourteen years after that first episode aired, Australian Story discovered the pair is still living happily ever after.

"I'm the luckiest girl in the world to have a husband like Mac because not many men would do what he does," Gayle said.

Gayle holds out hope for use of remaining arm

Mac became Gayle's hands, quickly learning the art of applying makeup to his wife.

"I obviously am more than happy to do whatever Gayle wants," Mac said.

"If you're ever having a tough day you just think about being in her shoes, and it certainly brings you back down to earth."

Interest in Gayle's health and the couple's relationship has not wavered.

"It's incredible the number of people that talk to us about our first story," Gayle said.

"All the time people [are] pulling us up in the street and introducing themselves and commentating on that story."

Mac said he was "certainly a lot better at putting the makeup on these days".

Hopes were high that over time Gayle would recover the use of her left arm after surgeons transplanted healthy nerves from her right arm socket, but improvement has plateaued.

"I do realise that if I had my arm amputated it would take away the drag and give me a lot more mobility," Gayle said.

"But I'm just reluctant to have it removed in case something popped up that could help me in the future, to give me some more use back in that arm.

"You've got to keep positive though; you never know what might come up in the medical world. I got muscle back into my arm.

"It went from looking dead and no meat on it to having some nerves regenerated and it looks healthy. There's hope."

'She doesn't whinge, just pushes through'

The couple say it is a positive outlook that helps keep their spirits high.

"To her credit she just gets the best out of whatever she's got. She doesn't whinge, just pushes through," Mac said.

"We're just lucky that we both love each other so much and can make each other laugh, I think that's what gets us through the day," Gayle said.

Deciding not to have children was difficult for the couple, but open communication helped.

"It was a totally mutual decision; she was sort of worried that I would definitely want to still have them," Mac said.

"Then we got talking and just realised that both of us thought it was probably the best decision made, so I think that helped Gayle a lot."

The couple have instead focussed their efforts on their businesses, which include perfecting the breeding of horses suitable for camp draft competition.

A dozen drafts throughout the year provide an opportunity for the Shanns to showcase their progeny and socialise with friends.

"Mac and I have both always been very passionate about horses - they're like our children, they are our life and we love them like they are our children," Gayle said.

"To be able to pack up and drive down the road, do a camp draft with a bunch of mates and compete on our horses, it's almost like too good to be true," Mac said.

"It's always just a good break to get away, cleanse the mind."

Watch Australian Story: Weekend at Weetalaba on ABC at 8:00pm and on iview.

This post originally appeared on the ABC and was republished here with full permission. 

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