A father’s dying wish was to see his 18-year-old son graduate from high school.
It came true two hours before he passed away on May 10.
Travis Grimsley was about to graduate with the rest of his class in late May. A group of people decided to spring into action so that 54-year-old Ronald Grimsley could see his son accept his diploma.
Ronald had been transferred to a hospice in North Carolina as doctors felt he only had several days left to live. When the staffers at Lower Cape Fear Hospice heard about his son’s upcoming graduation, they decided to do something about it.
Clinical nurse manager Sandy Duncan told PEOPLE: “I knew his dad was dying of cancer, so I called the school to see what we could pull together.”
Rhonda Benton, the principal at West Brunswick High School, added: “I’ve been in administration for 22 years and we’d never done anything like this, but it’s all about the kids and the impact you can have, so we knew we had to make it happen.”
Benton talked to some of Travis’ teachers while Duncan worked with many staff to decorate the hospital room. They also got a podium and 2019 signs and tracked down a recording of the ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ music.
“It was very exciting and so heartfelt. It was really emotional and so special that we were able to make this happen for this young man and his family,” Duncan expressed.
A group of family and friends gathered in the hospital room. Travis wore his gown and cap and marched down the hall and into his father’s room, where the principal gave him his diploma.
“It’s the most moving experience I’ve ever been a part of. I always tear up when I hear ‘Pomp and Circumstance,’ but when he came down the hallway and got to the door of his dad’s room and he started crying, we all started crying,” Benton said.
“He just looked up and smiled. I knew he was so happy,” Travis told WECT.
His father passed away only two hours later.
“This was life-changing for Travis. I know he’ll never forget that,” Benton said.
Duncan added: “It was very emotional, very touching. We were all tired after, emotionally and physically, but we did the right thing.”
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