The parents of Carthage High School freshman Tyler Christman paid tribute to their son on social media Tuesday, giving words to a community united in grief for a 14-year-old boy who died from an injury sustained in a football game.

Christman was hospitalized for swelling and bleeding in his frontal cortex following the Comets game at West Genesse Saturday.

The parents' statement says, in part, "Our family has felt such love from family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and strangers. Our family appreciates all the thoughts, prayers and support. We know he felt all the love being sent his way. Our Tyler was and forever will be loved."

On Monday night, first responders around the North Country gathered for a light-up ceremony to honor Christman and support his family.

A video posted by the Carthage Fire Department showed people and vehicles at Carthage Park.

The school community plans to honor Christman by wearing red on Friday. A number of businesses in the area said they will also be participating.

"We will FOREVER be grateful to be your mom and dad and we will always be your number one fans," Christman's mother and father wrote. "There are no words to express how much we admire and love you.”

The statement continued, “You truly took advantage of every opportunity to experience life and to "Just send it!" You lived the real life. We will be forever grateful for who you were to our world. You were made from love.”

“You will always be our hero and soon you will be a hero to the people that receive your life-saving organ donations, and a hero to all the family members who have spent many sleepless nights praying for their miracle. YOU will be that miracle.”

"We will try to make you proud. We will try to not let this break us."