Still in Motion
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Still in Motion
Still in motion is a story of Devon Still and his daughter Leah’s struggle with cancer that changed their lives forever.The biggest effect that this story has had on me has been on an emotional level with it making me want to make a difference,enjoy the people in my life, and appreciate what I have more.This had such a strong effect on my life because of the fact that my family has personally struggled with cancer.Seeing such a heart tearing yet warming story of the Stills’ fight really just made me a better person.
It was a June afternoon in 2014 at my familys humble abode in California,I was outside in 103 degree heat playing basketball when I decided to go inside to my air conditioned home.When I came in I walked into our freshly painted den with the smell of the paint still lingering in the air.I sat on the black leather couch that was set up right in front of our seventy inch flat screen.I tuned the TV to channel thirty-nine ESPN,where they were airing the story about little four-year-old Leah Still and her father Devon.The story stated that leah had been diagnosed with neuroblastoma in tumorous form.Neuroblastoma is a nervous cancer that affects certain types of nerve tissue that is found in organs such as the kidney and stomach. I instantly had an interest spark in my heart.Who were these people?How can we help Devon and Leah ?After seeing the story I found Devon Still’s page on instagram and started following him so I can keep in touch with the story.Within the week of the story coming out a foundation called #LeahStrong to support Leah and other kids that have been diagnosed with cancer.This foundation will help diagnosed kids get the best treatment for them.There was a huge charity that the NFL made that with every Devon Still jersey purchased in the 2014/2015 season.In which all the proceeds would be going to #LeahStrong Foundation,The Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, and Pediatric Cancer Center.With all the people and different charities that have been collecting for the same cause for three years have gotten over $4.4 Million in donations.
Now,we move forward a couple months into august when Leah will start her chemotherapy treatment.During this time Devon was in the pre-season of that current NFL season so he wasn’t able to attend a majority of leahs treatments.The training schedule that he had to follow made it basically impossible for him to attend but he still found a way to go to the ones he could.Devon kept pushing forward trying to keep his mind together as his daughter was in serious pain going through treatment.The end of the football season for Devon comes when his team The Cincinnati Bengals lost in the wildcard round of playoffs.Given the circumstances he was the only player that could be happy about the loss which meant to him he could go help and support leah all the time.With the extra time devon had he stayed with leah so much that he swore until leah was at least in recession he would not return to the NFL.As leah’s chemotherapy continued her strength began to get a ton of media attention including earning awards such as the Jimmy V award in august 2015.The Jimmy V award is awarded for toughness,integrity,and vigor throughout the fight and staying positive.Moving ahead leah’s treatment was full time and as a dad devon was consumed in Leah’s condition.Leah didn’t have major setbacks