Lauren Hill 'became everyone's daughter'
Numbers can't begin to define a life, but Lauren Hill's are amazing.
"I can't sum her up in numbers alone," said Brooke Desserich, executive director and co-founder of The Cure Starts Now.
But the numbers help understand the inspiration Lauren provided across the country with her desire to play for the Mount St. Joseph's women's basketball team, despite an inoperable brain tumor.
Lauren's battle with cancer ended Friday, but she didn't lose.
"I don't want people to say I lost, or I gave up," Lauren told The Enquirer in December.
Lauren, 19, was afraid people might say she "lost" to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a rare form of cancer.
"I don't want that," she said. "I want: She kicked DIPG's butt."
Even though it killed her, she kicked DIPG's butt. Here are the numbers to prove it:
- The Cure Starts Now funded $2.8 million of cancer research in its previous seven years.
- This year alone, Desserich told The Enquirer the organization expects to give researchers a check for at least $2.5 million.
"We can't thank everyone enough for their sentiments and kind words," said Lauren Hill's family in a statement. "Lauren truly moved a nation and we will be forever grateful to everyone for helping her achieve her dreams. We ask for you to respect our privacy as our family makes our next plans."
"We are forever grateful to have had Lauren grace our campus with her smile and determined spirit," said Mount St. Joe president Tony Aretz.
Her resolve, spirit and courage were celebrated Nov. 2 when she realized her dream of playing college basketball at Xavier University's Cintas Center. Cheered on by a sold-out crowd of 10,250 and a television audience, Lauren scored the first and last basket of the Mount's 66-55 victory over Hiram College.
Mount St. Joe conducted a celebration and prayer service for Lauren on campus Friday afternoon.
Xavier University will host public memorial service for Lauren at Cintas Center on Monday at 7 p.m.
Even as her health deteriorated and she entered hospice care in December, Lauren continued to fight for a cure. And that -- more than the huge amount of money her story has helped raise -- is what Desserich will remember about her.
"She always said, 'OK, I've raised you this money. Now, what are you going to do about it? Have you found the cure yet?'" Desserich said.
She is confident they will, but Friday was a somber morning at The Cure Starts Now.
"She almost became everyone's daughter," Desserich said.
The Cure Starts Now volunteer Katie Towne brought Kleenex and flowers for her coworkers Friday.
She was greeted with a big hug as she wiped away tears streaking down her cheek. Despite the tears, it was an inspiring morning as well.
A man delivering supplies to the building said Lauren "taught me how to live."
"She spoke with poise and wisdom like she had lived a lifetime," Desserich said.
The Cure Starts Now will have a gala next week, which was previously sold out, but the foundation has added 100 more seats.
Two Lauren Hill Full Court Press awards will be awarded at the event. The recipients, who were chosen by Lauren, do not know who they are, said spokesperson Jennifer Gault.
The Lawrenceburg High School graduate said at the college basketball opener her goal was to find a cure for cancer. She was diagnosed with DIPG shortly after her 18th birthday. The rare form of brain cancer typically affects young children ages 4 to 9.
"When I was diagnosed I remember kind of feeling lonely because nobody understood. And now that more people know about this story and the awareness of DIPG. I'm so happy that people know about it now and that we can get some research going and hopefully find that home run cure for cancer," Lauren said.
"And even though I'm probably not going to be around to see it, it's going to help a lot of people. And that's why we need to keep staying with this and not end it with this game, and keep supporting research."
An announced $40,000 was raised the day of the game for The Cure Starts Now Foundation and pediatric cancer research. The money has continued to pour in.
Dr. Mariko DeWire, Lauren's physician at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, said fundraising has allowed doctors to study DIPG more closely in the last five years. The condition is incurable.
DeWire explained what Lauren endured physically at the basketball game -- that loud noises affected her balance and bright lights bothered her. The forward wore sunglasses and headphones on the bench and earplugs throughout.
None of it stopped her from having a memorable day in the short time she played, or gracefully accepting a halftime award from legendary Tennessee basketball coach Pat Summitt.
"As you can see, Lauren is strong. She was going to rock it, and she did," Dr. DeWine said. "She did more than rock it."
The NCAA granted an exemption for the game to be played ahead of schedule so Lauren could participate. It was an emotional day for Lions coach Dan Benjamin, who said Lauren committed to the Mount in October of 2013 and told the staff 49 days later she had the tumor.
Coach and player bonded instantly, and the team followed suit.
"The two biggest things we wanted to accomplish is team and team chemistry, and Lauren helped us do that. But along the way she's made a lot of our girls become very mature, which is apparent. That's what you always want to do. You want your kids to understand what life's about," Benjamin said.
"And here instead of me teaching them, it was Lauren teaching them. She's made a great impact on these young ladies. I think they're going to remember this life lesson forever and hopefully they carry it out and help her carry the mission in their own lives."
Lauren's story inspired professional athletes like the Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James, Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman and former WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes. Said James on Twitter: "You are simply and truly "AMAZING" Lauren Hill!!! Thank you for inspiring me and I'll try my best to match you! Congrats on your game. … You're Awesome!!!"
The #Layup4Lauren initiative benefiting The Cure Starts Now was also a hit. Challenges were issued for people to spin five times and attempt a layup with their non-dominant hands so they knew what it felt like for Lauren to play. Bengals players Andrew Whitworth and Andy Dalton were among the first to take the challenge; San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon and Denver Nuggets guard Randy Foye also took part.
Lauren sat with her mother, Lisa, and father, Brent, in the post-game press conference at Xavier and admitted she didn't know how many people she had touched. Lisa Hill felt awestruck.
"I'm not even sure how all of this happened," Mrs. Hill said. "It is absolutely amazing to see Lauren chase after her dream of playing basketball and become a voice for DIPG, and just taking her job really seriously and giving that 110 percent. I don't know that either one of us could be any prouder of her. And we love her so much."
Said Mr. Hill: "I think today I'm probably the proudest father on the earth. Not that I haven't always been, but it's just that much stronger. In just the past couple weeks it's been amazing with all the support from everybody around the country. And we just hope and pray that we can continue this journey and help these kids coming down the road, because we've got to stop it."
Lauren, who has a brother, Nate, and sister, Erin, called her college debut "amazing." It was, she said, the best day she'd ever had.
But it wasn't her only day in collegiate books. She went on to make three more lay-ups in games before becoming an honorary coach for her team.
Lauren was honored at local sporting events, from a University of Cincinnati women's basketball game to a Cincinnati Cyclones outing, and was featured on a Wheaties box and a NBA Live 15 cover. She also struck up a friendship with Bengals player Devon Still, whose young daughter, Leah, is battling cancer. Lauren surprised the defensive tackle with a signed jersey in November.
In ensuing months, Lauren was featured in an Upper Deck rookie card and was named to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference first team.
"Length is not the only determination" in life, said Towne, a volunteer at The Cure Starts Now.
"She showed so many people how to live."
Carrie Cochran and Paul Daugherty contributed.
WANT TO DONATE?
You have two options:
By mail, to The Lauren Hill Tribute Foundation
c/o The Cure Starts Now
10280 Chester Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45215
Or online, at Layups4Lauren.org