It was April 25, 2017, and 19-year-old Anisa Gannon was driving to work when she witnessed a horrifying car crash taking place. Two young women, 23-year-old Hannah Simmons and her friend, 28-year-old Lauren Buteau, were driving Hannah’s daughter A’lannah to a routine check-up when Hannah lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a truck. The truck driver didn’t experience any severe injuries, but Hannah, Lauren, and A’lannah lost their lives at the scene.
Hannah was also pregnant, so the fatal accident claimed the lives of four.
Anisa was already late for work so she decided to take a photo of the crash and show it to her boss while explaining why she wasn’t on time that day. However, little did she know that the photo would bring some sort of closure to the family of those who lost their lives.
Namely, Anisa didn’t notice anything unusual on the snap, but when she showed it to her aunt, Tara Noble, she noticed the very clear beam of light rising up from the wreck. It resembled a path to the sky.
“Anisa, it looks like a pathway up to heaven,” the aunt said.
When Anisa became aware of the “pathway to Heaven” she felt the urge to show the photo to Hannah’s and Lauren’s families. She believed it would provide comfort, and she was right.
When she was shown the photo, Hannah’s mom, Judy Simmons, said, “I just needed something to show me that they were in Heaven and that they were OK. And that was my confirmation.”
Lauren’s mom, Dana Buteau, shared Judy’s sentiment and wrote, “I can’t explain the feeling [that] came over me. It was like watching them go to heaven.”
The photo was a sign, and it helped the bereaved families move on. It helped them with their grief and provided a touch of comfort. It was all they needed during such tragic times.
“Nothing’s ever going to be the same, my heart’s broken and I miss them daily,” Judy said. “If it wasn’t for the picture, I don’t know, it made it a whole lot better for me.”
She said she keeps the photo on top of her TV so that she could see it every day and to be reminded that her daughter and granddaughter are at a safe place.
Hannah’s fiance, who lost the love of his life, his nine-month-old daughter, and his unborn child said Anisa’s photo brought him peace. “[The photo] is bringing me peace, I know they’re watching down on me. It’s helping a lot.”