Cincinnati Bengals' Devon Still was considered to be one of the best defensive tackle players in the NFL. He is currently enduring the pains and struggles of being a young dad to remain resilient despite his 4-year old daughter's stage four diagnosis.
The story of NFL's Devon Still and his 4-year old daughter Leah unrelentingly an inspiring one when the Bengals defensive lineman posted an Instagram video of a pump up session he gave his daughter on the way to surgery to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for her pediatric cancer.
The 25-year old defensive tackle of the NFL was released by the Cincinnati Bengals before the season after he admitted earlier this month that his mind wasn't 100 percent on football during the preseason and training camp. A hamstring injury also relegated him near the end of the preseason but he was re-signed to the practice squad so he could provide healthcare for his daughter Leah. A day later, the team brought him back up to its active roster.
Meanwhile, Thursday will be one of the longest days for the NFL athlete, Devon Still. There is also a great possibility that he may shed some tears. But the resilient father couldn't let his daughter Leah see how fearful and anxious Devon really was. He needed to endure his feelings to be strong for his daughter and himself.
In an Instagram video posted by Devon Still Thursday morning, the Bengals player gives her daughter a pre-surgery encouragement talk from inside the car. As he sits in the front seat with the camera pointed toward him and the beaming little girl in the back seat recognized by friends and family as the "selfie queen." The two had a very poignant encounter as they drive their way to the hospital.
NFL's Devon Still has had his mind on his daughter's cancer battle since June 2, when clinicians discovered that she had neuroblastoma, a pediatric cancer that has left Leah with a very critical chance of survival. Last week, the physicians reexamined the tumor's size and detected that it had gone down ahead of the surgery that was scheduled for Thursday. Doctors are eager to remove the tumor before engaging Leah back under extra round of chemotherapy, radiation and stem-cell transplants in a determination of renewing her bone marrow and stem cells.
This past month, with Leah's cancer battle weighing on him, Devon Still is on a mission to raise funds for pediatric cancer study. Two weeks ago, the Bengals abetted with those exertions when they began marketing his jersey out of their pro shop. All profits are going to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. After four days, they raised about $400,000, including an ample amount from New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton, who purchased a hundred jerseys to give to children in the Cincinnati area. Other fundraising efforts are sending money to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
It might be a little consolation for the NFL athlete Devon Still that back home this week; the 3-0 Cincinnati Bengals take their bye ahead of a Week 5 contest at New England. Devon Still arrived in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday after having permitted to leave Cincinnati a day early to help set up a pre-surgery party for Leah that was held at a cinema he rented out Wednesday.
The support Devon Still has gotten from his NFL team and the fan base has been remarkable. It is also impressive the way he alongside his daughter Leah, to have endured, handled and remained resilient on their battle with cancer without flouting pace.
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