News

Actions

Devon Still says daughter beat cancer

Posted at 7:07 PM, Jan 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-12 19:32:00-05

Former Bengals defensive lineman Devon Still announced that his daughter, Leah, has beaten cancer Tuesday on Instagram.

 

With Leah finishing her last treatment last night, I can really say my daughter BEAT CANCER! Words can't describe how proud I am of this girl. No matter how hard it got or how painful the treatments were (and it was pretty bad a lot of the times) she never gave up! I want to thank everyone who followed us as I documented her fight on social media. The amount of support we received was beyond amazing! I can honestly say that you all made a big difference. Every time we received bad news or felt like it was coming to a point were we couldn't fight anymore, I would go to the comments you all wrote cheering us on and it would make us fight so much harder. I ask that since Leah's fight is at the end that you follow other families journeys and cheer them on just as you did us! My advice to any family going through this battle: no matter how hard it gets, no matter what the doctors tell you, always remain positive! Speak victory into existence. Give your child's fight with cancer a purpose. Use it to raise awareness so that you can help all kids fighting this disease. No matter how big or small your platform/following is, you will reach that one family that just needs to know they're not alone in the fight so they don't give up. drop to your knees everyday and pray. I was never a big spiritual person but I always believed in God and knew who to turn to in the time of need. Keeping faith that God will see you through doesn't make the battle easier but it makes winning possible! It gives you back the hope that is stripped away from you every time you watch your kid endure the pain from the treatments and the bad news you often receive from the doctors. #LEAHSTRONG #STILLSTRONG

A photo posted by Devon Still (@man_of_still75) on

Still and his daughter Leah captured the hearts of football fans and non-fans alike as Leah fought a public battle with stage 4 cancer in 2014.

In response, he and the Cincinnati Bengals announced that they would team up to donate 100 percent of Still’s jersey sales to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and pediatric cancer research. According to reports, Still's effort helped raise over $1 million for organizations that fight cancer.

Leah was given a 50-50 chance to live at age 4, but after rounds of chemotherapy and stem cell treatments, she was in remission since March.

Cut by the Bengals last September, Still confirmed that the Houston Texans have signed him to a future contract for next season. On top of that, 5-year-old Leah is finished her treatments Friday.