Gage Garmo, the Michigan high school student who valiantly battled cancer, passed away on Monday.
Garmo had osteosarcoma, a bone tumor that develops in teenagers. The 17-year-old was described as someone who inspired others, despite his grim condition.
"Gage was probably my biggest inspiration this year," Rochester High School classmate and football teammate Blake Fetterhoff told My Fox Detroit.
"We have helmet stickers with our numbers on them (football helmets) and I put his number 32 under my number on my helmet. He probably got me through this season. I couldn't see this season without him."
"He never had any sad or bad spirits about it, he was always so positive and that honestly kept us positive," Tyler Goschnick added.
The classmates raised over $30,000 for Garmo's family through crowdfunding site GoFundMe, and set up a visit with one of Garmo's favorite celebrities - Eminem.
The teen endured chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, including a leg amputation, in hopes of stifling the bone cancer. Unfortunately, the disease spread to his lungs, and he was given just days to live.
One day after the surprise visit from his favourite rapper, Garmo passed away at his home in Rochester Hills. The teen's classmates hoped the world would know how Garmo lived.
"He always made me feel like I needed to be positive no matter what, it was something that was like better for him," Sydney Hodge said. "He just wanted to see his friends happy no matter what he was going through."
