By now, Most of the US has heard about Devon Still of the Cincinnati Bengals and his 4 year old daughter who is battling stage IV cancer. But how many know that her name is Leah and that she is battling neuroblastoma, stage IV. Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid cancer in childhood, and the most common cancer in infancy. There are a reported 650 cases per year in the United States and the survival rate in 50%. Stage IV or high risk cases generally tend to affect children under 12 months of age, has spread to the skin, liver, and/or bone marrow, is in only one area and the cancer cells may be found in lymph nodes near the tumor.
Leah Still, who has for all intensive purposes has become the face of childhood cancers, received her diagnosis on June 2, 2014. Leah was slated to take part in a dance recital, but due to a high fever, she was taken to the emergency room of Albert I. DuPont Hospital for Children in Delaware. Each time Leah's hip was touched, she would jump in pain, therefore an ultrasound was performed....which uncovered a mass. A doctor informed her parents (Devon Still and Channing Smythe) of 10 possible things that could be causing her fever and pain......cancer was the last thing listed.
In order to determine what the mass inside of Leah was, an MRI and CAT scan were performed. After approximately 2 hours in the hospital, a quivering doctor revealed that Leah was now a cancer patient. Additional blood work had to be performed, but that is when the emotion moment became truly heart wrenching for the needle fearing toddler and her father. Through her tears and utter fear, Leah yelled at her father, "This is your fault! You never brought me to the hospital in time!"
Months into her courageous battle, Leah was able to participate in a music video that Hoda Kotb in collaboration with Cyndi Lauper and Sara Bareiles. The video which is for a song that is a mash-up of "Truly Colors" and "Brave" is a part of the 'Today Show's" Shine a Light Series in order to benefit pediatric cancer. Leah, alongside fellow young cancer patients at the Children's Hospital in Philadelphia. After the debut of the video on the show,
Devon Still posted a video of Leah speaking with Hoda (a cancer survivor herself) with the following caption, "IDK what Hoda from the Today Show did when she met Leah... but my daughter loves her... she couldn't stop smiling when they were on the phone... when they hung up she let out a big YESSS! Lol."
On September 25th, Leah under went a 5 hour surgery to have her tumor, all lymph nodes and right adrenal gland removed. (The tumor was the size of a softball in June and due to chemotherapy, had shrunk significantly). The surgery that was performed in Philly was successful. This does NOT mean that Leah is out of the woods, contrary to many reports. The tumor is gone, NOT the cancer, for it has spread to her bone marrow. Medical professionals and family alike are hopeful that her next round of treatments (that will include chemotherapy, radiation and stem-cell treatments) will render her cancer free.
Due to Leah and her family being willing to be public with their united fight, fears and hopes, pediatric cancer research has found new funds, and platforms for education. Leah's father, in conjunction with the
Cincinnati Bengals have raised over $1 million dollars for research that will be donated to Children's Hospital in Cincinnati. Funds are also being raised via
Hoda Kotb joining forces with the American Cancer Society.
Leah continues to be uplifted by her family, NFL fans across the country, teams and families that have been affected by multiple forms of cancer. Through it all, Leah has remained "Still Strong" and her father says it best, "She's going to bounce back from this fast because she's a trooper."
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