Love Triumphs Over Adversity

LeeAntoinette Mitchem & Brandon Dean Matney
Cool Ridge | 10.2.21

Photographed by Emily & Billy Portraiture and Landscape

In 2019, LeeAnn and Brandon moved in together in LeeAnn’s childhood home, and all was well in their little bubble of love. Little did they know their world would soon change forever. In the first week of 2020, the couple found out Brandon had cancer. LeeAnn didn’t know what to say or do but knew that, no matter what, she was going to marry him. Brandon battled for 4 months before going into remission, and the couple got engaged that August. A year later, they were married at the most beautiful venue they could have prayed for.

The weather was perfect, and everyone who was there for the couple through their worst was there to witness one of the happiest days of their lives. Brandon made his way down the aisle with LeeAnn’s nephew while LeeAnn was escorted by her dad, the memories of her pawpaw and late uncle carried in her bouquet making it feel as though they were there. The couple shared personal vows, everyone in the room tearing up.

At the reception, a song was dedicated to LeeAnn’s late uncle, and she and her father performed a dance to some of their favorite songs. It was a very emotional day for the bride and groom, one they didn’t know they would get to have. After everything they had been through and overcoming all of life’s challenges, LeeAnn and Brandon felt like they were on top of the world. But their story didn’t stop there. Due to the aggressive chemo, LeeAnn and Brandon were told they weren’t going to be able to have children naturally. But in the following January—two years to the month after Brandon’s diagnosis—they found out LeeAnn was pregnant. The happy couple has since settled into life together in Tazewell, Virginia, with their son, Brantlee.

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