TAMPA, Fla. — It's a milestone for the student and one of the proudest moments for a parent.
Hezekiah Walters should have walked the stage with his classmates to receive his diploma this week, but he didn't live to see the day.
His mother knows just what he would have said.
What You Need To Know
- Hezekiah Walters would have graduated this week. He died in 2019 while doing football training
- Walters' mother Phyllis accepted his diploma during Middleton's graduation this week
- PREVIOUS STORY: Medical Examiner releases preliminary report on death of Middleton student
"Mom, I made it I made it!” Phyllis Walters said. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. We lived by that and he loved that. It gives us strength."
It was that strength that she says carried her as she bravely walked in her son's place to accept his diploma.
"Mrs. Walters, we understand your loss,” Middleton Principal Mick Boddie said to her as she crossed the stage. “We grieve with you. Hezekiah was a valued memory of the Tiger family. Please accept this honorary diploma as a token of his accomplishments."
Hezekiah was a freshman playing football at Middleton in 2019 when he overheated doing football conditioning training. His temperature soared to 102 degrees and he died of heat exhaustion. He was 14.
Since then, Hillsborough County has created new rules to prevent something like this from happening again.
"Now, boys who play sports, they're safe and they're protected and they have people there with the right training to help them so this doesn't happen to another mom's son." Phyllis Walters said.
She went on to say she is grateful Middleton has continued her son's legacy by celebrating him during other important school events like the football banquet and senior night.