Oakland football player with leukemia who inspired Warriors dies

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Darryl Aikens, an Oakland teenager who has been an inspiration to the Golden State Warriors, died Sunday surrounded by his family. He was 18-years-old.

EXCLUSIVE: Oakland football player with leukemia inspires Warriors

Last month Aikens went to his graduation at McClymonds High, it was a day he thought might never come.

"This is like a dream come true," said Aikens.

The former high school football player hadn't been to school in a while. Darryl had leukemia, and even after a bone marrow transplant last year, doctors told him he had only months to live.

"What makes me want to keep going? I got something to prove," said Aikens.

Last December, with the help of ABC7 News, Aikens got to fulfill a life-long dream when he needed it most. Despite his condition, Darryl was able to make it to a Warriors practice and be one of them, if only for a little while. At the time, he told ABC7 News the team's superstars inspire him, but in the end, it may be the other way around.

"Someone so strong and courageous, we can learn a lot from him. He's probably doing more for us than we can do for him," said Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors.

His mom said the Warriors visit gave her son hope as he fought for his life.

"I was like, this is cool. I loved to see the big smile on his face. He deserves it," said Tierra Barker, mom.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help his family with expenses.