Anna Boxman Thompson just got married to the love of her life, Travis Thompson — only there was one real big caveat that put a damper on their wedding day. Anna’s son, named Lake, had been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia several years prior, and only last May, her sweet boy lost the battle. The couple’s October wedding celebration, a few short months later, should have been the highlight of Anna’s year. But needless to say, she struggled with feelings of grief for her son.

Lake was dmitted to Egleston Hospital on May, 15, 2012, and was never able to be successfully fully released. He had begun chemo treatment the very same day he entered the hospital, but it hadn’t been enough to save him. Anna created a Facebook page for her son, when he was first diagnosed. A religious family, she called her page, ~Prayers for Lake Bozman~ and on it she wrote, that it was put together to get people to,

“…send as many prayers as we can get up to our Heavenly Father and for words of encouragement and support for Lake and his family through this difficult time…Thank you all in advance for your love, prayers and support. God Bless.”

IMAGE SOURCE: FACEBOOK

The support helped of course, but when the wedding took place, in the couple’s hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, both parties felt their son’s loss. So they hired her friend and professional photographer, Brandy Angel, who runs a non-profit photography business called, Be the Change – Brandy Angel Foundation (BAF), which the family friend had created for purposes just like this one, “to help those in need by sharing their images and stories…[in a way that] draws you into her images and make(s) you connect to the story that image tells.”

So for her dear friend, Anna, whose sad story she knew so well, Brandy Angel did something truly remarkable. On Anna and Travis’ wedding day, she took all their wedding photos, and edited in an image of their lost son, Lake. 

Anna, who was so grateful that Lake was still in her wedding, one way or another, said,“Although I felt his presence that day and was actually happy, it was almost unbearable to take family pictures without him.”

The resulting wedding photos, have gone viral on the web, because in addition to the intentional imprint of Anna’s dead son, Lake, in the center of the family group, an additional after-image was added, to give honor to the fact that he was there in spirit.

SHARE the love and pass it on!