A college basketball player in Ohio fighting brain cancer successfully completed the season and received the Governor's Courage Award last week.
Lauren Hill, who is from Indiana, was honoured for her bravery and perseverance during her team's end of the year banquet, held inside her hospital room.
The college freshman was diagnosed over 16 months ago with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), an incurable form of brain cancer. Despite her worsening condition, Hill continues to put other people before herself.
"Day by day I hope my message has resided through everyone... that it's precious every amount of time you get with someone, no material item matters," she told WKRC-TV on Tuesday.
"Every moment you get with someone is a moment that is blessed, really blessed."
Her coach at Mount St Joseph University, Dan Benjamin, said that that has been Hill's consistent message.
"That's truly Lauren,'' coach Dan Benjamin he told the Associated Press on Thursday. ''That's the message she's been saying forever. She's just thankful God gave her that opportunity and that role because she's the one that could handle it," he continued. "And she's done it so gracefully.
''Even at the banquet, she comes in her wheelchair and she's all smiles. And that's truly amazing," said Benjamin. "I don't know what her pain level is or how much suffering she's going through, but the girl smiles every time she gets a chance.''
The 19-year-old played in four games and made five layups this season before her condition worsened, and was later made an honourary coach at the Division III school.
The Lauren Hill Tribute Fund has raised more than $1.4 million for DIPG research, with a goal of $1.75 million. Donations can be made through The Cure Starts Now Foundation.
