Devon Still is in for a very emotional ride this football season. The defensive line man of the Bengals has been fighting for a roster spot, while his 4-year-old daughter, Leah, has been battling with pediatric cancer.
Unfortunately for the Bengals, they lost to the New England Patriots on Sunday, with Devon Still being able to record two tackles. He was wearing a black nasal strip as he played, with the words "Leah Strong" scrawled in white.
Plus, during the game's third quarter of the 43-17 New England win, the cheerleaders of the Patriots even wore No. 75 Still jerseys in respect to what Still and his adorable daughter is presently going through. Moreover, the Gillette Stadium also played a video tribute that was made for Leah, who has recently undergone surgery.
Devon Still's reaction to the tribute was heartwarming and most likely brought most of the audience to tears. He was obviously touched by the effort of those who supported him and was even seen tearing while the video clip was being shown.
The 25-year-old Devon Still said after the game, "It was very emotional. Every time I see a video like that and get a reminder of what my daughter is going through and what those other kids are going through, it's definitely hard to fight back the tears."
During the off-season, Cincinnati added the Penn State graduate to the team's practice squad in order to help him keep the insurance that he needed to pay for his daughter's expensive treatments. He has since been named to the active roster.
The proceeds obtained from the sales of Devon Still's No. 75 jerseys, which amounts to almost $1 million, have benefited the Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center.
Since doctor's diagnosed his daughter with cancer just this summer, the Bengals organization and the fans have rallied around the little girl. Many purchased Devon Still's jerseys while some event expressed their well-wishes to the family. Additionally, the organization and fans have always been there to support Still and help him balance his activities, so that he could both be there for football and also for his sick daughter.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
