CINCINNATI — 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. Leah, who watched her father play in person for the first time since he joined the NFL in 2012, 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.
Leah Still is absolutely adorable at Browns-Bengals (via @Steve_OS) http://t.co/tTpv6UFdjs pic.twitter.com/4GZEHcBWK1— SB Nation (@SBNation) November 7, 2014
"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."
Leah Still is in the HOUSE! #SelfieQueen in the #SelfieQueenCity pic.twitter.com/i5FfTaGEE0— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 6, 2014
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 had a cancerous tumor removed from her abdomen. Before the surgery, a month ago, Still posted the pep talk below to Instagram.
Pre-surgery pep talk...I might be nervous and scared beyond words but I'll never let her see it...let's get this done!A video posted by Devon Still (@man_of_still75) on Sep 9, 2014 at 4:35am PDT
In September, the Bengals announced that proceeds of sales of Devon Still jerseys would be donated to Cincinnati Children's Hospital's pediatric cancer treatment and research facilities. The team sold more than 1,000 jerseys in two days and number-75 jersey sales accounted for the most units sold in a day in the organization's history.
The $1.3 million check presented at Thursday's game resulted from the sale of Still jerseys.
Between quarters @CincyChildrens was presented with a $1.3M check from the sales of Still jerseys #StillStrong pic.twitter.com/RbphfqlTZ3— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) November 7, 2014
Guess she got tired of being the patient and switched rolesA photo posted by Devon Still (@man_of_still75) on Oct 10, 2014 at 1:11pm PDT