Feb 9, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still and his daughter Leah Still courtside before ringing the ceremonial liberty bell at the start of a game between the Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors at Wells Fargo Center. The Warriors defeated the 76ers 89-84. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Defensive tackle Devon Still and 4-year-old daughter Leah, who has been battling Stage 4 pediatric cancer, received some great news.
Still, a free agent who hopes to re-sign with the Cincinnati Bengals, said after nine months of treatment, his daughter may be free of cancer.
Leah was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer last June — and her fight inspired millions across the nation.
Still made the announcement Tuesday night on Instagram:
“That moment you get the best news you’ve ever received and don’t know what to do so you just flex!! We got Leah’s MIBG Scans back tonight and the doctors told us they didn’t see any active disease in her body!!! We still have to wait for her MRI and bone biopsy results later this week. But the doctors feel very optimistic about them because of the results from today. So for now we celebrate!! #LeahStrong #PrayersWork #ThankYouEveryOne #ImSoHappyIFeelNumb #BeatCancer.”
Still told the Bengals’ website that they celebrated the wonderful news by going out to dinner to Leah’s favorite restaurant, the Cheesecake Factory.
“It just feels so good to great news after nine months of only hearing bad news,” Still said later Tuesday night. “Hopefully when they get the rest of the results Thursday it will be the same thing. It’s just a great feeling.”
The Bengals said last month they were open to re-signing Still to a one-year deal — and on Tuesday night, he said he is preparing to sign and continue his career in Cincinnati.
“That was based on today’s tests,” Still told the team website. “Obviously if the news hadn’t been this good, I would have wanted to have spent more time with my daughter. But now that it looks like things are headed on the right path, I’m ready to go back and play football.”
Still was promoted from the Bengals’ practice squad after the first week of last season. He played in parts of 12 games, making 19 tackles.
“They say it’s easier to cope when you see something coming. You can brace for it,” said Still, who revealted the next step is a stem cell transplant to rebuild Leah’s immunity system. “It’s really hard to take on the impact when you don’t see it coming. I thought I’d be able to handle it. I think know I’ll be able to focus better because I know the process.”
Still and Leah released an animated book online last month called “I Am Leah Strong.” Still said at the time that he received a lot of questions from other parents with kids fighting cancer about how his family approached Leah’s treatment.
During the season, the Bengals presented a $1.25 million check — the proceeds from the Still’s jersey sales — to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for pediatric cancer research.
