This College Basketball Player Isn't Letting Her Brain Tumor Keep Her From Living In The Moment And Playing The Game She Loves

At just 19 years old, Lauren Hill knows all too well that time is precious, and she’s making the most of every single second she has left.
It was about a year when the Mount St. Joseph University freshman was feeling a bit off after basketball practice and decided to go see the doctor. That’s when they discovered a cancerous tumor in her brain and estimated she only had about 12 months left to live.
However, Lauren has not only managed to stay optimistic throughout the experience, she’s also viewing it as an opportunity to teach others to make the most out of every moment we have, because tomorrow is never guaranteed:

“I’m spreading awareness and also teaching people how to live in the moment because the next moment’s not promised. Anything can happen at any given moment. What matters is right now.”

Lauren’s message is definitely being heard, as she has received a ton of support from her community.
In fact, the NCAA recently agreed to bend the rules a bit and moved Mount St. Joseph’s opening basketball game of the season all the way up to November 2nd in hopes that Lauren might be able to step onto the court one last time.
And if that wasn’t enough, the much larger Xavier University is allowing them to use their 10,000 seat arena for the game, which sold out faster than a Cleveland Cavaliers exhibition game earlier this month.
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Tons of teams and athletes from around the country have also been showing love, including NFL player Devon Still, who’s daughter is also battling cancer. Well he got a chance to meet up with Lauren and see firsthand just how inspirational she truly is:

“It’s like she’s beyond her years. She understands her purpose. In her 19 years of being here on Earth, she’s done a lot more than a lot of older people have done.”

Lauren continues to get support from athletes all over the country who have been sending her signed #22 jerseys, which is the number she wears.
We can’t even begin to speak to the level of courage and strength that Lauren is showing in her final moments, and we can’t wait to see her take the court one last time.
[Image via AP Images.]