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A photo of a woman lovingly carrying her double-amputee Marine husband has gone viral, and for good reason, but their story is even more touching. The moving image of Kelly Forrester Cottle and Jesse Cottle spread quickly online after it was posted on photographer Sarah Leford’s Facebook page . How they got there is an amazing series of events, both tragic and inspirational. Jesse, 28, lost both of his legs in Afghanistan in 2009 after stepping on an IED, which was caught on video by a fellow marine wearing a helmet camera. The footage was used in a documentary about Jesse called Coming Home . After spending months in the hospital, Jesse met his future wife Kelly, 24, in San Diego on one of his first outings with his new prosthetic legs. “His personality and who he is just outweighs his injuries by so much that you forget about it after a while,” Kelly explained. The professional photo seen above was taken while the couple was visiting family in Idaho, however she says the specific pose was not staged. “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.” Jesse told ABC News, “The photo really says it all. She’s physically carrying me, but there’s times where she’s carrying me emotionally.” “I actually look at it as a symbol for our whole relationship in general.” Ledford, who took the photo, added, “It’s an amazingly inspiring story that has touched the lives of many Americans. 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.” The couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary on August 18. “If I hadn’t stepped on that IED I wouldn’t have met her,” he said. “I wouldn’t take it back ever.”

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Wife Carries Double Amputee Marine Husband, Inspirational Photo Goes Viral