Dying college student gets final wish to play in basketball game

Lauren Hill, 19, is a freshman at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hill committed to play for the school's basketball team on October 1 of last year. But just little more than a month later, Hill was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, the survival rate of which is 0%. Doctors originally gave Hill a best-case scenario of two years to live, but after a recent MRI scan, it looks like Hill won't make it until the end of the year.

This would have meant that Hill wouldn't have been able to play in the season opener against Hiram College on November 15. But Hiram and the NCAA proved flexible with Lauren's condition, and rescheduled the game to November 2, which should allow Lauren to achieve her dream of playing in a college basketball game.

"Why stop? Why give up on life? Why not keep going?" Hill told the WNBA.com.

Hill is turning her condition into a way to educate others, having become a voice of hope and inspiration to children with rare cancer. Hill has spoken at many community events and has raised money towards her cause.

"I just want more people to know about this kind of tumor because it's not just happening to me - it's happening to little kids," Hill said.

Hill was honored at the Indiana Fever game on Friday, October 10, being named Honorary Indiana Fever Team Member of the Day.

You can learn more about Lauren Hill's inspirational story at her The Cure Starts Now page.