An early graduation ceremony was held for a high school senior in Huntington Beach whose father, a beloved youth sports coach in the community recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, could watch her receive her diploma.
For Abigail Kerwin, 18, the bittersweet ceremony, in which her father Bill Kerwin presented her with her diploma, meant the world.
“This was so meaningful for me and it really showed me how emotional this journey has been for me and I felt like I made a big step, knowing all my life after this that I got my diploma from my dad,” she told KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell.
Well known in the community for mentoring hundreds of kids through youth sports, Bill was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer 40 days ago. As news of the heartbreaking diagnosis spread, the community rallied, coming together to give Bill a chance to be at his daughter’s graduation by creating the special ceremony just for Abigail and her family…