A woman who has had three stillborn births has paid tribute to her late children with a touching gesture.
Laura McBride, from Texas, has endured the pain of three stillborn births over the years. In a touching gesture, she has paid tribute to her late children in the most beautiful way.
In a bid to surprise her husband for Christmas last year, she got in touch with photographer Brandy Angel, who'd previously made it possible for a bride to share her wedding day with her late son.
Talking to ABC News, Laura said: 'When you lose a child early at birth, it's uncomfortable and people don't talk about it and women just live with it.'
She got the idea from the other tribute Brandy was involved with: 'I saw it and thought, "Oh my goodness". I knew Brandy was in Georgia and I didn't know how that would work but something compelled me to call.'
Luckily, Brandy was planning a trip to Texas and was able to photograph Laura and her husband.
In order to hide the real reason for having their pictures taken, Laura told him it was a family photoshoot, and invited their in-laws, nieces and nephews.
https://www.facebook.com/BrandyAngelPhotography/photos/a.917729971629532.1073742191.149736405095563/917735754962287/?type=3&theater
The photographer then took a few photos of just the couple, to which designer Heather Pinheiro, who donates her time to the cause, worked her magic.
In the moving photos, their three children appear next to Laura and her husband in angelic frames.
'Christopher would be 22, Tyler would be almost 18, and Kieran Shane would be just over one year old', she explained.
The couple were both touched by the results, and Laura also recounted her husband's reaction.
Image: Brandy Angel Photography
The finished result
'He cried. He was very surprised and very moved and said it was his favorite gift ever.'
The special family portrait now hangs above their fireplace, which, says Laura, is a 'great memory and comfort'.
Helping parents share new memories with their late children is not the only way in which photographer Brandy is trying to make a change.
Inspired by the work she's done for charities like Make a Wish, Red Thread Sessions and Inspiration Through Art, she started her own non-profit organisation, Be The Change-Brandy Angel Foundation, Inc.
Using the power of photography and social media, Brandy is helping people who need transplants, those who are looking for a missing family member and cancer patients.
