Freshman basketball player Lauren Hill realized a dream come true in playing in a collegiate basketball game for Mt. Saint Joseph College. Some may think that that is an ordinary dream, but nothing is ordinary when you have diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG. DIPG is a rare form of pediatric brain cancer that normally affects young children, not college bound adolescents.

Hill was diagnosed with DIPG about a month and a half after deciding to play basketball at Mt. Saint Joseph, a NCAA Division III college in Cincinnati. The coach there, Dan Benjamin, made Hill’s dream of playing college basketball come true as he petitioned the NCAA to move up their first game so Hill, not knowing how much longer she would live, could play. Thousands of people, including celebrities, WNBA players, and NFL players crammed Xavier University’s basketball arena on Nov. 2 to take in the historic moment.

Hill started the game and 17 seconds in, she scored a layup. The game was paused as Hill’s teammates rushed the floor and celebrated with her. Coach Benjamin presented Hill with the game ball after the 66-55 victory over Hiram College. Hill said after the game, “Today has been the best day I’ve ever had. Thank you. I don’t know what else to say but thank you.”  Hill was later awarded conference player of the week.