Basketball Player Lauren Hill Dies at 19 After Battling Brain Tumor for Two Years

An inspirational basketball player, Hill raised over $1.5 million to research a cure for Diffused Intrinsinc Pontine Giloma, a rare pediatric brain tumor.

Lauren Hill, a 19-year-old college basketball player who inspired millions with her brave battle against brain tumor, died on April 10.

In 2013, Hill was diagnosed after suffering from vertigo and dizziness while playing for her high school team. Doctors said a tumor the size of a lemon was continuing to grow, and there was little they could do.

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Hill was a freshman at Ohio’s Mount St. Joseph University, where she gained national attention by taking to the court despite her brain tumor diagnosis.

The school convinced the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to move up their season opener to give her a chance to play. She made two lay-ups, scoring the first and last baskets of the game.

After the game Hill said, "It’s a dream come true to play on a college court, to put my foot down on the floor and hear the roar of the crowd. I just love it so much. I love basketball.”

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Hill started a non-profit organization “The Cure Starts Now” that has raised over $1.5 million to research a cure for Diffused Intrinsinc Pontine Giloma (DIPG), a rare pediatric brain tumor that affects the brain stem.

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Source-Medindia

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