Why this photo of a family leaving hospital with their newborn is breaking hearts online

On first glance, it's a picture that looks like one many families have posed for themselves - parents getting ready to take their newborn baby home from the hospital.

But this photo by Devin Henry is going viral because of the heartbreaking reality that Scott Jenkins is taking is newborn daughter home by himself.

"Today I left the hospital with our little miracle and our guardian angel," Scott wrote alongside the photoshopped image, which has had over 167,000 reactions and over 126,000 shares.

Mother-of-three Aly Jenkins died suddenly, following complications while giving birth to the couple's daughter, Sydney earlier this month.

In an emotional caption the Canadian widower and now solo father-of-three thanked doctors, nurses, family and friends for their support as little Sydney spent her first nine days in Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU).

"I can't thank everyone enough for all the support we have received this last week!" Scott wrote.

"I want to thank every single doctor and nurse who tried to save Aly's life and the ones who gave Sydney life after being in critical condition to out of hospital in 9 days!!!

"Thank you to you all my friends and family who helped out around the house with cleaning and keeping the other two kids busy," Scott added, of the couple's two older children, son Brady and daughter Avery.

"I know Aly is working her magic from above," he said, before adding: "I am going to miss you so much Aly! Until we meet again babe I love you".

Friends started a fundraising page for the family, with 2,300 people donating over AU$235,000 in ten days.