Malachi Briggs, younger brother of running back Shaquille Powell, passes away after battle with cancer

Malachi Briggs, the younger brother of Duke running back Shaquille Powell, has passed away after a battle with cancer. He was seven years old.

A Wilms tumor—the most common form of kidney cancer in children—was diagnosed Sept. 10, 2014, after Briggs was admitted to Urgent Care with a protrusion under his rib cage. Briggs underwent surgery two days later, but doctors decided that the tumor was too big and too close to vital organs to be fully removed, according to the family's GoFundMe page. A biopsy confirmed that the kidney tumor was malignant and in Stage 4, having spread to the lungs.

Powell's family started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Briggs' medical expenses. More than $38,000 poured in, almost double the campaign's initial goal of $20,000.

Briggs underwent a chemotherapy and radiation treatment program, but the cancer did not initially respond, and he was admitted to the emergency room and underwent another surgery in mid-October so that doctors could determine whether the cancer was a Wilms tumor or some other form of cancer, according to the Durham Herald-Sun.

Briggs' condition seemed to improve in the next month, and he was able to fly to attend Duke's game against Virginia Tech in Durham Nov. 15.

Duke assistant director of athletics for external affairs Art Chase confirmed that Briggs passed away Saturday morning.