Mom honors son lost to cancer in touching wedding photo

A mom is showing that her dearly departed 8-year-old son is still alongside her family in spirit in a touching photo.

Anna Bozman Thompson's son Lake passed away from leukemia in May. When the mom got married to her long-term boyfriend Travis Thompson in Colbert, Ga. this past month, she said 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," Thompson wrote on Facebook.

After an image of the family was taken, Thompson asked photographer Brandy Angel to make some emotional final touches by adding an image of Lake to the photo.

"They turned out beautiful and thanks to my amazing photographer she was able to get some special edits done. I needed this picture more than she or anyone could ever know," Thompson wrote.

Angel said that adding the image of Lake wasn't easy, but with some help, she was able to fulfill Thompson's request.

"There's not really a word for this experience," Angel told ABC News. "It makes me feel good to make her feel better even if it's in a little way."

Thompson posted the image to Facebook on Sunday, where it received over 13,000 likes and 1,500 shares.

"God Bless you and your family as well as continued prayers for all. The picture speaks volumes and is absolutely beautiful!" wrote one Facebook user.

"Great picture. Awesome way to remember your sweet son," wrote another.

Thompson says that the positive feedback has helped her grieve.

"Your words of encouragement and your prayers have helped keep me going," Thompson wrote on Facebook. "I thank you for that. Please don't ever stop saying Lake's name. I love you sweet boy."