Cincinnati Bengals Are #LeahStrong

07 Nov, 2014

Defensive tackle Devon Still’s 4-year-old daughter got one of the biggest cheers on a cold, windy night Thursday at Paul Brown Stadium.

Leah Still was on the field after the first quarter when the Cincinnati Bengals presented Children’s Hospital with a check for more than $1 million to help with cancer research and treatment. The girl is being treated for cancer.

She was released from a hospital in Philadelphia and flew to Cincinnati to see her father play for the first time, sitting in an overhead suite for most of the game against Cleveland.

“I would describe it as an emotional roller coaster,” Still said after Cleveland dominated in a 24-3 victory. “Seeing my daughter in the pregame with all the excitement and then seeing her on the field receiving the check and just seeing the joy in her face, I was just so proud of the perseverance she showed to raise that money.”

Still wrote “Leah Strong” on his eye black strips. Police officers working the game wore his uniform No. 73 on their backs.

Still also has supported Lauren Hill, the freshman basketball player from Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati who has an inoperable brain tumor. Hill played her first collegiate game last Sunday and made a pair of baskets.

Leah Still got to meet Hill, a moment that was shown on the videoboard.

“Seeing her picture on the scoreboard made me emotional, but somehow I was able to play the game,” Still said. “The most emotional I got was when I looked up and saw her and Lauren Hill and saw they got a chance to meet.”

Leah Still flies back to Philadelphia on Saturday and will have more radiation treatment next week. She has had a cancerous tumor removed from her abdomen.

AP

Image Jeff Swinger

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