Lauren Hill, the terminally ill college student who touched our hearts when she scored the first basket of the NCAA season last year, died Friday.
She was 19 years old.
Hill, who played with the Mount St. Joseph’s women’s basketball team in Cincinnati, was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma shortly after she turned 18. And despite battling an inoperable brain tumor, the young woman never lost hope.
“When I was diagnosed I remember kind of feeling lonely because nobody understood. And now that more people know about this story and the awareness of DIPG. I’m so happy that people know about it now and that we can get some research going and hopefully find that home run cure for cancer,” Lauren once said.
“And even though I’m probably not going to be around to see it, it’s going to help a lot of people. And that’s why we need to keep staying with this and not end it with this game, and keep supporting research.”
Mount St. Joseph’s plans to hold a celebration in honor of Hill.
“We are forever grateful to have had Lauren grace our campus with her smile and determined spirit,” said Mount St. Joe president Tony Aretz.
Hill, who urged family and friends to see her efforts through, is doing exactly what she set out to — according to USA Today, her nonprofit foundation has helped to raise more than $1.5 million for cancer research.
“Through Lauren’s fundraising and advocacy efforts, she not only became a spotlight on the lack of funding for cancer research, but she most certainly has become a beacon guiding researchers for years to come,” The Cure Starts Now co-founder Brooke Desserich said.
Our prayers go out to Hill’s family during this difficult time.
You can read more on her story here.
SOURCE: USA Today | VIDEO SOURCE: NDN
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1. Ruth’s Chris for mom moms birthday dinner
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2. Cincinnati thanks for all the love yall showed my daughter these past couple of days! Time to head back to philly…big week ahead #prayforleah #leahstrong
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3. 😎
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4. Ran into Santa while we were at the mall…don’t know what toys she asking Santa for but I know he better chip in something if he’s going to be getting all the credit 😒
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5. Fresh out of church #AllSmiles #prayforleah
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6. On the way to the hospital..I pray this radiation removes the rest of the cancer.. I just want my daughter to be able to enjoy all the things a kid should 🙏 #prayforleah
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7. 10748330_655613234554792_439587851_n
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8. About to spend these next couple of days in the hospital getting into the Christmas spirit
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9. Radiation treatment is in the books! She’s headed home!
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10. Bussin’ it up on FaceTime
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11. Photo Cred: Leah
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12. The smile you have after shutting down the mall, literally. This girl had security and the mall manager following her around
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13. Selfies in the hospital to pass time by as we wait for the stem cells
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14. Big thanks to @ToddSpaletto and @TheNorthFace team for sending me and my daughter these coats with #LeahStrong and #StillStrong stitched in
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15. Holiday picture ready! #PrayForLeah #LeahStrong
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16. She brings out the smile in me #Christmas2014 #PrayForLeah #LeahStrong
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17. WCW 😍 #PrayForLeah #LeahStrong
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18. I think we compliment each other well #PrayForLeah #LeahStrong
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19. 😍 #PrayForLeah #LeahStrong
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20. Would you trust her to fly your plane?
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21. Thank you to @michellebeisner, ESPN and Disney World (aka Santa Claus) for making one of my daughter’s Christmas wishes come true! #TryingToMakeThisChristmasOneToRemeber #PrayForLeah #LeahStrong
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22. My little Elsa #PrayForLeah #LeahStrong #Christmas2k14
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23. One last pic before we head back to Philly..Wish we could take this scenery and weather back with us 😔 #OneDayTripsToDisney #Christmas2k14 #LeahStrong #PrayForLeah
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24. TBT last Christmas #PrayForLeah #LeahStrong
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25. Today on @ESPNNFL Sun Countdown (airing sometime between 12-1235) @michellebeisner gives an update on these two – @Dev_Still71 & Leah Still. And shows Leah’s Christmas wish come true! #LeahStrong #PrayForLeah LINK IN BIO
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26. I didn’t really start living until the day my daughter was born and I never felt the type of love or had someone hold me down this hard until I met @ashaadore #MyWCWs #HappyHolidays
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27. Finally off work..it’s about to go down!!
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28. Hard at work!
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29. A night out on the town in Cincinnati…sometimes it feels like there’s not enough hours in the day to all the things we want to before we leave each other but we’re going to make the best out of it before she leaves tomorrow
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31. On the way to the hospital for a long day of testing to see how well all the treatment she’s had so far has been working. I don’t think y’all understand how hard I’m praying they come back and tell me my daughter has no more cancer cells in her body 🙏
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32. That look when the doc says you can leave after an unexpected stay at the hospital because of a fever
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33. Guess who’s bizzack
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34. #FistBump 👊 #PrayForLeah #LeahStrong #BeatCancer
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35. LOVE
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36. Hospital sleepovers 😜
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37. “For what’s money without happiness?Or hard times without the people you loveThough I’m not sure what’s ’bout to happen nextI asked for strength from the Lord up aboveCause I’ve been strong so farBut I can feel my grip loosening” …..it’s like all you can do is watch and hope your kid is strong enough to fight the pain smh…this is by far the hardest treatment #OnlyIfICouldTradePlacesWithHer
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38. She took chillin at a game to a whole new level..guess she thought me and @tonestill was her bed #family
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39. She tries to match my style
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40. 😍😍😍 #NYCFashionWeek
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41. She looked like a natural
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42. In good company @kingjames
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43. The doctors office is our photoshoot
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44. Don’t forget to preorder your book at iamleahstrong.com !!!!
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45. Movie date to see SpongeBob before we head into the hospital tomorrow for Leah’s last round of this treatment
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46. Our mindset going into today’s treatment…. 💪EAH STRONG
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47. One last selfie before we start chemo
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48. Had a real rough night yesterday ended up getting moved to the ICU but doing a little better today…now we’re just watching movies trying to past time and get her mind off things #Matilda
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49. A princess will be a princess regardless of her environment. “No more hospital gowns!” 😂😂 S/O to mom mom missy for the princess gowns
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