A lesbian couple who decided to get married in every country where same-sex marriage is legal have had their dream cut tragically short, after one of them was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Artist Fleur Pierets, 44, and her Belgian partner Julian P Boom, 39, who live in Los Angeles, began their globe-trotting romantic journey in September 2017 after they were married in New York.

However, the couple received the devastating news that Belgian-born Julian had just months to live in December, shortly after they wed again - their fourth marriage - in France.

Fleur Pierets and her partner Julian P Boom, from Los Angeles, revealed how their plan to wed in 22 countries around the world to highlight marriage inequality has been tragically cut short

The couple, both artists, shared their love story on Instagram before they received the devastating news at the end of last year

Belgian-born Julian, left, was diagnosed with terminal cancer of the brain and heart after she fell ill in December

The couple were four weddings in to their global matrimonial tour when Julian, who had previously battled breast cancer, began fainting in France, where she currently remains because she's too ill to fly home

Nuptials: The happy couple were wed in France, where Fleur's mother lives, at the end of 2017, unaware of the tragedy they were about to face

Now, Fleur has revealed that her wife is too ill to travel and the couple remain in France, where Julian was diagnosed with tumours in her brain and heart.

Fleur told the Mirror the way their adventure had been cut short was a 'terrible shock' as she explained how the illness has quickly taken hold.

She said: 'Things are going really fast now; she has already lost her memory completely and is unable to move her limbs. Her brain "forgot" that they are there.'

Fleur and Julian first met at a party in Amsterdam in 2011 and quickly fell in love, working on multiple artistic projects together.

Fleur and Julian were on their fourth wedding and hoped to travel to many more countries before fate tragically changed their course

After surviving breast cancer, Julian, 39, is now seriously ill in France, reveals Fleur

Their latest venture looked set to be their most important collaboration as they embarked on a tour of 22 countries in a bid to shine a light on marriage inequality around the globe.

The website the couple set up around the project explains what they were trying to do: '22: The Project is an art project that speaks of evolution and optimism. A time capsule that instantly refers to the possibility of change. That captures the zeitgeist of a world in the midst of change when it comes to gender equality and human rights.

'It celebrates the places that legalised gay marriage, and highlights the work that still needs to be done in the 170 countries that don’t.'

The pair met in Amsterdam seven years ago and have collaborated numerous times on artistic projects, with their global wedding their most ambitious yet

The pair had been followed by international media on their journey and hoped they would highlight marriage inequality around the globe with their story

Friends of the couple have are now raising funds to help with Julian's palliative care

However, their adventure will end in France, where Julian is being cared for at Fleur's mother's house.

Fleur said the last few weeks following the diagnosis had been a 'nerve-wracking nightmare' in which she has watched her partner deteriorate and fears she may not wake up every time she goes to sleep.

She said: "Since they couldn’t do anything for her anymore in the hospital, and she was too sick to repatriate, I took her back to my mother’s house here in France, where I’m currently taking care of her.'

A fundraising campaign has been set up to help the couple pay for care that isn't covered by insurance.