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Devon Still and his daughter Leah wrote a book for kids fighting cancer

 Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Four-year-old Leah Still has been an inspiration to millions since she was diagnosed with a Stage 4 pediatric cancer called neuroblastoma in June. Next month, the daughter of Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Devon Still will continue to exhibit her superhuman strength in an animated book titled I Am Leah Strong, which will be released at the end of February on a website of the same name.

leah

The youngster wrote the book with her father after he fielded multiple queries from people asking for advice on how to deal with such a difficult diagnosis.

“I talked to my daughter and asked her if she wanted to do a children’s book to help kids who are fighting pediatric cancer now and kids who will be diagnosed in the future to help them with the transition from normal life to being in the hospital all the time,” Still told For The Win on Thursday. “That book was written by her. I just had an outline of questions I wanted to ask her. Whatever answers she had I wrote in book form.”

Still announced several weeks ago that Leah’s recent treatments – MIBG radiation – hadn’t eradicated the cancer as his family had hoped. Leah Still begins a new type of chemotherapy treatment on Friday, one that doctors hope will shrink the disease enough for her to undergo stem cell therapy.

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LOVE

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One thing that will make things easier for Still is his regular proximity to his daughter, something his football schedule didn’t permit this fall. He recently moved into a new home down the street from the Philadelphia hospital where Leah receives her treatment.

“Being home now in Philadelphia is easier for me,” Still said. “There are times when I want to hug and kiss my daughter and now I can do it because she’s right there with me. That was one of the biggest issues that I wasn’t there to support her while she was going through her treatment. It’s definitely been a weight off my shoulders now that the season is over.”

In addition to the book, Still, whose jersey sales have now generated $1.4 million for the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and pediatric cancer research, would like to eventually start a “Still Strong” foundation. But that currently takes a backseat to the focus on getting Leah as healthy as possible.

Still also appears to have settled any child support issues with Leah’s mother, Channing Smythe, who wrote a letter to the NFL in November alleging that Still hadn’t made any payments in four months. Smythe reportedly told TMZ recently that the two had reconciled any differences in that area, something Still confirmed on Thursday.

“You’re fighting pediatric cancer and you have to work together,” Still said. “There are so many more things that are important in life and one of them is my daughter’s health. We have to put our differences to the side and work together.”

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While Leah’s present health is of primary concern, Still remains very focused on her future as well. Since Leah has not been able to return to pre-kindergarten since her diagnosis, he plans to bring in tutors to work with her so that she remains on par educationally with her peers whenever doctors determine she’s healthy enough to go back to school.

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