ORLANDO, Fla. — Members of Myles Hill’s family gathered at his gravesite Tuesday to celebrate what would have been the boy’s fourth birthday.
Myles died two weeks ago when he was left in a van outside an Orlando day care for nearly 12 hours.
Tuesday’s gathering, though, was not to mourn the boy, but to celebrate who he was, his family said.
“(He was) smart, intelligent, he was going to be somebody,” his mother, Chiel Banks, said. “Probably the next president.”
Myles’ family wanted to give him the big fourth birthday party he wanted and brought along balloons and cupcakes for the loved ones who gathered Tuesday.
His family was still reeling after his death and despite wanting to make the day a cheerful one, his grandmother, Brenda Watts, talked about how hard the past two weeks have been.
“He said, ‘Momma, I need a kiss. I need a hug,’” Watts said of what Myles said to her the last time she saw him. “I can’t sleep. I see my baby at nighttime. I can’t hardly eat and I just want them to know whoever is responsible, I do want justice to be served.”
The driver of the van where Myles was found dead has been charged in his death and both locations of the day care he attended have been shut down by the state.
A lawsuit has also been filed on behalf of his family against the day care, Little Miracles Academy, its owner and the van driver.
Myles mother hoped that what happened to her son would be a wake-up call for parents everywhere.
“All over the world, I want them to check for Myles,” she said. “Every day care, check for your children.”
Despite the sadness, the birthday celebration was mostly filled with laughter and after singing Myles “Happy Birthday,” his family members released balloons to the heavens where they were sure the toddler was looking down.
“I release him and let God have him,” Banks said.