Afton Wallace, a recent Warren Central graduate, who became a champion for thousands in her yearlong fight against cancer, died Sunday. She was 18.

Wallace’s family announced her death on the Facebook page dedicated to her cancer fight.

“This morning, Sunday, May 24, our sweet, precious and amazing daughter, Afton Colleen Wallace, graduated from mortal life. We dearly loved her and we deeply appreciate all the prayers and kindnesses that have been extend by all of you. She has felt and been lifted by your faith and prayers. Thank you.”

Nearly a year to the day, Wallace, who was a star student and athlete at Warren Central, was diagnosed with stag IV Ewing’s sarcoma, a very rare, aggressive, childhood bone cancer.

The diagnosis came after months of trying to determine the cause of Afton’s lower back and leg pain, which began in late January or early February of 2014.

The cause of the pain was determined to be the tumors on her pelvic bone, spine, liver, kidneys and perhaps other places.

By this time, Afton’s condition was fading: she was immobile, her leg was becoming paralyzed and she was feeling pain in her face.

Later doctors would find tumors in her head pushing on the nerves controlling her face and esophagus to be the cause of the facial pain.

Afton’s mother, Sheri Wallace, said Afton’s competitive drive helped her fight cancer.

The tumors on Afton’s spine should have left her paralyzed, but she has fought through the pain, gotten up, and walked, Sheri said.

“I tell people as a parent you never want to see your child dig deep, and this year we’ve had to watch Afton dig deeper than I think most humans even find it possible,” she said. “Then something else is thrown at her and she finds the courage to dig deep and come up again.”

Since her diagnosis, Afton spent more than 120 days in the hospital, underwent 45 radiation treatments and received 70 doses of chemotherapy.

In recent weeks, as the cancer progressed and treatment seemed to stop working, the family asked the public for continued prayers for her recovery and for her to make it to Thursday’s graduation ceremony.

Afton was named the Class of 2015’s Star Student for her academic achievements and had received a full scholarship to BYU.

In an article in The Vicksburg Post, Wallace said it was important to maintain a positive outlook on life even in the face of such a life-threatening diagnosis.

“If you go around moping about how much my life sucks, ‘oh, I have stage IV cancer, and everyone gets to have a normal senior year,’ you’re going to be miserable,” Wallace said.

“You have to take the happiness when you can. It’s easiest if you put a smile on your face. Even if it isn’t genuine, it turns into something genuine.”