Teen With Functional Needs Visits Mom’s Grave To Proudly Tell Her He Graduated

Jul 21, 2022

Graduating from anything is a major milestone in life and one that is often celebrated with those closest to us, especially family. For most, it marks the time where we transition from childhood to early adulthood, take on new responsibilities and generally celebrate the fact that we're ready to take on life.

This is why it's difficult when the people you love and who've supported you are unable to come to your graduation ceremony. Sometimes there are big reasons why the people we love can't make it, and other times it's because they are sadly not with us anymore. No matter what the reason is, these people are always dearly missed, and their absence can weigh heavily on the mind of the ones who are graduating.

One functional needs teen from Louisiana named Paul Marshall Jr. wasn't able to share his high school graduation with his mother, LaTanya Delphine Wilson Marshall, since she passed away in 2010. Because of this, she was sadly not there to see him graduate in 2020. However, that didn't stop him from including her during the special moment anyway, as he went to her grave on the day of his graduation and told her all about his achievement.

Although Paul Jr.'s mother wasn’t physically with him on his graduation day, her spirit was more than present as he proudly spoke to LaTanya about his remarkable achievement, as he simply told her: “I did it.” Keep reading to learn more about this emotional yet heartwarming moment a bright young man shared with his mom — and the world.

This is the heartwarming story of what happened to one teen with functional needs named Paul Jr., whose mother passed away in 2010, as seen in this touching video and reported by KSLA. His mother had always been there for the young man until cancer sadly took her away. Paul Jr. had already had a hard life before his mother's far too young death: born with only one functioning kidney and a defective heart, Paul Jr. had several touch-and-go moments in his young life. He was also diagnosed with Down syndrome on top of this. However, KSLA quoted his father, Paul Marshall, as stating that despite all of this, Paul Jr. never lost his optimism:

"If you're having a bad day, or going through something, Paul Jr. is the person you want to be around and talking to that day."

Paul Sr. also revealed that his son's wish to include his late mother on his graduation day had a good reason that was as heartbreaking as it was heartwarming: 

"She always wanted the best for Paul Jr. Her last dying words were, 'I just want to see Paul Jr. graduate.'"

This is a completely understandable wish that likely any good mother can relate to. So when the time of his graduation came, Paul Jr. was determined that with his mom no longer being alive that wouldn't stop him from letting her know of his achievement and including her in his celebration. Captured in a video, the moment has since been shared on the internet, allowing us all to participate and honor the young man in his wonderful achievement.

The teen was seen looking dressed up and dapper in the video posted to YouTube as he wore a button-up shirt, tie and pants on his big day. In the video, he walked up through the cemetery to her grave while holding a bouquet. Once he arrived at her grave, he spoke to his mother and told her the big news. He said:

"Mommy, I have something to say, that I did it. I did it. I graduated today. And I know you're so proud of me and happy. I love you so much."

Paul Jr. then placed the flowers on his mother's grave before kissing his fingers and then touching her tombstone. The moment was so precious because it was clear how deserving and proud the boy was to have graduated, and his mother would surely be so proud to see the young man he'd grown into. The video clearly showed that his father was overwhelmed with emotion at the tender moment.

Speaking to KSLA, Paul Jr. admitted that he would miss his days at school: "I'll miss high school and I'm very sad about it." He also mentioned that he planned to attend Bossier Parish Community College. We are sure Paul Jr. will go on to reach his life goals. And that his mother will surely be proud of him for anything he achieves.

Congratulations to the young man for graduating high school — he should be very proud of himself, both for his hard work and also for the beautiful way he included his mother in his celebration.

What did you think of this touching video? Do you have any moving graduation stories? Let us know. Then be sure to pass this on to your loved ones to spread this young man's story further.