Elisabeth Reed Wagner, 21; Optimism Inspired Country Song ‘Elisabeth’

Elisabeth Reed Wagner, 21, who had battled tumors since she was a toddler and whose positive attitude was immortalized by country singer Billy Gilman in the song “Elisabeth” on his “Dare to Dream” album, died Thursday of cancer in Dallas.

Wagner had neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes small and mostly benign tumors to form on nerves, since she was 2.

She enrolled in Texas A&M; University in 1998 to earn a degree in elementary education but had to drop out last year when the disorder progressed to cancer.

The song “Elisabeth” was written by Wagner’s aunt, Liz Rose, and her friend, Kim Patton Johnston.

Rose, who was inspired by her niece’s positive attitude toward her disease, wrote the song in about an hour:

“Elisabeth, you make the world a better place/With the kindness of your smile and your love/And your beauty will live on and on.”