Jesse and Kelly Cottle's heartwarming photo had landed on social media, and earned thousands of likes, shares, and comments, inspiring other people of their endearing affection for each other even after former San Diego Marine Jesse Cottle's legs have been amputated.
An ABC News reported on Tuesday that although the photo seemed to show an image of a "cute couple in love," giving it a closer look will definitely touch everyone's hearts, especially that Kelly Cottle was giving her double-amputee husband a piggyback ride.
A Daily Mail report stated that the photo of Boiste State swimmer Kelly Cottle, 24, and her hubby was taken during their visit to their family and relatives in Idaho.
The 28-year-old former Marine had lost both of his legs in 2009 in Afghanistan after he accidentally stepped on an IED - a video of the incident, which a fellow marine took, also landed the web days after the accident happened, and was even used in Jesse Cottle's documentary 'Coming Home.'
"If I hadn't stepped on that IED I wouldn't have met her," Jesse said in an interview with ABC News. "I wouldn't take it back ever."
According to Huffington Post, Jesse and Kelly Cottle met while Jesse stayed in San Diego for his recuperation.
"His personality and who he is just outweighs his injuries by so much that you forget about it after a while," Kelly told ABC News.
The couple, who got married last year, paid a visit to Kelly's family in Boise, Idaho, and this is where the viral photo was taken.
"Someone had suggested taking photos in the water," Kelly Said. "I was carrying Jesse back to his legs, and the photographer was like, 'Oh we'll get a couple of shots of you together.' It wasn't planned or anything."
Sarah Ledford, the photographer who posted Jesse and Kelly Cottle's photograph on her ShutterHappy Facebook page, was really surprised that it received over 7,000 likes, 500 shares, and countless positive comments days after she posted it.
"It's an amazingly inspiring story that has touched the lives of many Americans," Ledford said. "Jesse is not a hero for stepping on an IED, he's a hero because of the way he has handled what was handed to him and how he chooses to continue to conduct his life with his positive attitude."
"It's cool because we represent a lot of people, couples that are going through the same thing and so it's just an honor to be able to represent that," Kelly Cottle told KTVB.
Additionally, Ledford said to KTVB, "The picture just blew up, America just fell in love with Jesse and Kelly."
Jesse and Kelly Cottle recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary on Aug. 18.
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