FAIRFIELD, Ohio -- Walter "Superbubz" Herbert, 6, was donning a cap and gown in a "graduation" ceremony Friday night, just hours after he took to the field with the Bengals.
Superbubz has been receiving the rock star treatment as he fights neuroblastoma, a type of pediatric cancer.
He got to wear the same jersey as his favorite football player, A.J. Green, as he walked through the same tunnel the Bengals do at Paul Brown Stadium. He played catch with long snapper Clark Harris and met Green during a break in practice.
"We're so blessed to be able to do what we do, but to have these young people come out here take part in our Friday practices and see the smiles on their faces as they greet the players, and it's great for the players to really have a chance to reach out to them," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "These guys have young children of their own and so it's always a great message to them and very thankful for where we are and what we have."
This came after another amazing experience last week for Superbubz, when at a Reds game Joey Votto hit a home run and have him his bat and jersey.
Superbubz's dad, Wally Herbert, said the busy schedule has been "an incredible distraction."
"It's great for Bubz to be out here and enjoying life in general but to be able to do the things he gets to do it's incredible," Herbert said.
Superbubz's doctors have stopped his chemotherapy treatment after he developed a fungal infestation that forced surgeons to amputate a small portion of his little finger. They're hoping it doesn't become widespread.
"We do know it was in his pinky and in his leg, but they think that might be just local," Herbert said. "That's kind of what we're praying for, and if that's gone we get to go fight cancer again."
On top of his big day with the Bengals, Superbubz also spent time attending grades two through eight and all of high school Thursday and Friday, as it was his wish to experience graduating through all grades. Fairfield schools held a ceremony for him Friday night.
The Herbert family hopes it can help more children like Walter by raising money to make September Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. They’ll be holding a fundraiser to support that cause at the Public House Sept. 16 in Cheviot, Ohio.
