While seeking a degree in mass communication, dreaming of graduate school under the city lights of Boston and yearning for children, Christina Eppel cherished every waking moment of her life.

Eppel never got the chance to fulfill those dreams. She died Wednesday during a surgical procedure at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

"I was privileged to get to know her all over again these past two years (while she was sick), and I'm sad others won't get the same opportunity," said Jennifer Eppel, her mother. "The effects she had on everyday life were profound."

Her father, Jerry Eppel began writing about her struggle in a journal Sept. 29. He recorded hospital visits, asked family and friends to pray and described Christina's health condition.

"It is our decision on how each of us walks through each door and how we handle the effect it has on us," Christina Eppel said in a class paper last fall. "Freshman year at college was supposed to be my year of change and growth. I never thought that this change would be on my body. When I started feeling a stabbing sharp pain on the right of my pelvis backside area that started affecting how I slept and sat and ultimately my learning and marks in class."

Diagnosed November 2007, Eppel suffered from cancer linked to a disease called neurofibromatosis - tumor growth around nerves. Doctors recommended the amputation of her right leg and pelvis. Eppel was told she had three-to-five years to live.

She opted to begin a series of conventional and experimental treatments.

"Looking on the 'cancer door' from the outside, I judged it as an emotional melt-down, when in reality, it was an inspirational new outlook on life," Christina Eppel said in the mass-communication's paper.

Mallory O'Brien Slattery, Christina Eppel's big sister in Alpha Xi Delta and Texas State alumna, said Eppel's charisma and quick wit never wavered despite frequent visits to the hospital. Slattery even remembers the little things, like Christina's guilty pleasures of Italian food and Rollo's candy. Slattery brought a whole bucket of the candies to cheer up Christina on one of her visits. Slattery said her nighttime visits to the hospital gave Eppel an outlet to say things too glum for daytime.

"We talked about her fear of never becoming a mom," Slattery said. "I'm just really surprised she's gone still. It is just really weird. We did everything together."

Jennifer Eppel said Christina grew up fond of dance, piano, Girl Scouts, theatrical performance and found a second home at Texas State in Alpha Xi Delta.

"I had kind of a stereotype of the greek system, but (the member's of Alpha Xi Delta) totally smashed it," Jennifer Eppel said. "Christina would say how (her friends) were always there for her (even before Texas State)."

Christina left The University of North Texas in 2007 to attend Texas State. Eppel's mother said Christina worked closely with the Office of Disabilities in order to coordinate completing courses. She said Christina's professors played an intricate role in fostering her academic aspirations.

"I listened to students as they interacted with her, and I know what they said when she was no longer able to come to class," said assistant professor Marian Houser in an e-mail to Eppel's mother. "It was a revelation and inspiration for them to recognize how much someone their own age valued education and life."

Diana Stuckey, Eppel's pledge mom in Alpha Xi Delta and Texas State alumna, said she remembers Eppel's genuine personality and good spirit while both of them were playing Wii bowling last Christmas.

"Christina was always very chatty and noticeably loved life," Stuckey said. "No matter what happened to her, she said it was all God's will."

Eppel's mother said faith was an important part of Christina's life.

"In the end she was at peace," Jennifer Eppel said. "She wasn't afraid, and she didn't want us to be sad for her."

Christina Eppel was born July 1989 in San Antonio.

A visitation will be held 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Colonial Funeral Home in San Antonio.

Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

"I'm at a loss," said Jerry Eppel, Christina's father. "She was the best daughter ever."