Family and friends gather to watch as iPad dressed in a cap and gown 'graduates'

When Cynthia Pettway found out that she was going to be in hospital the day of her graduation, the young girl was understandably devastated. 

Cynthia was her grandma's first grandchild to be given the chance to "walk that stage", and she was determined to graduate with the rest of her classmates and make her proud.

Knowing just how important it was for Cynthia, the hospital decided to do something to help her out.

With the joint effort of Mobile County Public Schools (MCPSS) and USA Children's and Women's Hospital, Cynthia managed to walk that stage and get her diploma with the help of a robot and an iPad. 

"Cynthia Pettway was in the hospital and could not graduate with her LeFlore High School Class of 2018 today," a post shared on MCPSS' Facebook page said. 

"Not in person, anyway. Through a partnership between MCPSS and USA Children's and Women's Hospital, Cynthia used a robot cloaked in a cap and gown to virtually walk across the stage.

"More than 40 members of Cynthia's family along with friends gathered in a conference room at the hospital to watch the graduation ceremony broadcast live by mcpssTV.

"And the crowd at the Mitchell Center cheered as the robot took the stage in her stead. 'It was perfect,' said her mom, Rachael Johnson. 'We loved it'."

Absolutely incredible! Fair play to everyone involved.