After spending three months in the hospital, senior Maddy Dill was diagnosed with brain cancer back in March of 2012.

Dill and her family, like anyone else’s initial reaction, was shock, nervousness and fear for Maddy’s life. Her family has learned to cope with everything and has been extremely supportive.

Now, Dill faces the daily complication of diplopia, also known as double vision and tinnitus, which is ringing in the ears.

Dill also faces the problem of ptosis, which means her eyelids are permanently shut. An additional ocular impairment is the fact that she is no longer able to move her eyeballs up or down.

“It sometimes is very hard for me,” said Dill. “I couldn’t do the things other people are doing.”

Dill was on the Desert Vista tennis team, but she soon had to quit because of her ill-fated disease.

Many children and teens do not have to carry such a heavy burden, like Dill has for a few years now.

With brain cancer, Dill still manages to get her education. She continues to prove the fact that she can still be positive even through the obstacles she endures every day.

“I hope that I could be a role model to others. I mean, that would be great,” said Dill.