When Arika Stovall and her boyfriend, Hunter Hanks, were involved in a horrific car accident on New Years Day, the couple were cut from the wreckage and separated by emergency services so they could both be treated.
Both of the 21-year-olds were constantly asking doctors and nurses if they could see each other, unable to think of anything except the other’s safety.
Hunter was finally able to see Arika after a couple of hours and he rushed to her bedside and held his girlfriend in an embrace that let each of them know that everything was going to be alright.
That moment was photographed by a friend and posted by Arika as part of a heartfelt Facebook post that has been shared more than 90,000 times.
Hundreds of people around the world have contacted the couple to share how the image has touched their lives.
“We’ve gotten messages from hundreds of people we don’t know saying our story and our photo has brought them out of very dark places in their lives,
“It’s incredible to see the power of one photo,” said Arika.
