Photos showing 'definition of strength, love' between cancer-stricken mother and newborn going viral

NICEVILLE, Fla. -- Photos of a cancer-stricken mother breastfeeding her newborn baby boy have gone viral, with nearly 100,000 people sharing what many are calling the strongest photos in recent memory.

Kate Murray Photography out of Niceville, Florida posted the powerful photos Thursday. Murray says the unidentified mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer halfway through her pregnancy. The mother had a single mastectomy during her pregnancy, and underwent chemo before the child was born, Murray wrote.

Birth was induced at 36 weeks in order for the woman to receive more treatment. A short time after the child was born, the baby latched on to the mother's remaining breast, causing an outpouring of emotion in the roomful of people.



"Breastfeeding is such a sacred bond," Murray wrote. "This one just makes my heart break and swell at the same time."

Thousands had commented on the photo by Friday, with many touching stories coming to light.

"My mom had breast cancer when she was pregnant with me," Lindsay Portwood said. "She was undergoing chemo. By all rights I shouldn't be alive. That was 17 years ago. She's been free for that long."



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