This wedding tribute to one bride's recently deceased son is absolutely heartbreaking.
After suffering leukemia, Anna Bozman Thompson's son, Lake, died this past May, an unimaginably difficult reality magnified by the fact, six months later, she was due to get married.
Coming to grips with her loss and the impending nuptials was incredibly difficult for the bride-to-be, who, in a post on Facebook, wrote,
Although I felt his presence that day and I was actually happy, it was almost unbearable to take family pictures without him. I could feel my emotions taking over after the ceremony when it was time to take pictures. I became anxious and almost irritated but I knew these pictures had to be taken.
The wedding did go on, though, and thanks to some amazing Photoshopping, Anna was able to pay tribute to her son after the event.
So many emotions today as ️Lake has been gone for 6 months now. Somehow I have managed to continue going but there have... Posted by ~Prayers for Lake Bozman~ on Sunday, November 1, 2015
In the photo's caption, Thompson explained,
[I] needed this picture more than [the photographer] or anyone could ever know. THIS is my family. And we will be together again. Thank you to all of you for the support and love that you have showed our family these past 6 months. Your words of encouragement and your prayers have helped keep me going. I thank you for that. Please don't ever stop saying Lake's name. I love you sweet boy.
The photographs were edited by photographer Paul Woodward and Thompson's friend Brandy Angel, who runs a non-profit photography business for families with children suffering from terminal cancer.
When asked about the photograph's edits, Thompson simply told the New York Daily News,
This is my family.
Heartbreaking.
Citations: Newlywed mom finds a beautiful way to include late son in wedding photos (Mashable)
