Four months ago, Franklin County High School sophomore Lucas Sechrist was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer that attacks connective tissues in the body.

His died Wednesday, leaving behind family, friends and a school community that loved him.

The 15-year-old's journal -- on the online support community CaringBridge.org -- describes many tests and hospital stays.

Some of the posts also showed what friends described as his constant positive attitude and love of life and included games for visitors, family photos and stories of his dog, Ramon.

"I remember being able to look at him and see happiness," said Olivia Flora, 21. "He had such a love for life and for his family and for God."

Sara Woods said she met Lucas through his mother, who was Woods' nurse when she had to spend time in the hospital in 2004. The two families became friends.

"Every time our families hung out, Lucas was the life of the party," Woods said. "He always had a smile on his face and was always making everyone laugh."

She said she last saw Lucas a few weeks ago when the two were hospitalized together.

"[We] joked how we wished they could roll out hospital beds out to see each other," Woods said. "Even though he was going through chemo, he was still more concerned about me than about himself. That was just the kind of person he was."

"He always had a smile on his face and was laughing," Franklin County sophomore Chris Bobbitt said of Lucas. "I don't think I ever heard anything bad come from him about something or someone."

While Lucas battled the disease, his friends started a Facebook group that accumulated more than 750 members from across the country. The high school held fundraisers for Lucas, who spent time in the Ronald McDonald House while he received medical care in Roanoke.

Soon after his death, another friend started a memorial page where friends and people who never met Lucas left messages.

"He was a great person that was so strong to go through this, and he has touched the lives of people that didn't even know him," Woods said. "He was such a courageous young person, and I admire him for fighting like he did."

A memorial service for Sechrist is 11 a.m. Saturday at Rocky Mount Christian Church. His family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Flora Funeral Home.