Houston Texans defensive tackle Devon Still has been making headlines over the last couple of years for more than his prowess on the field. He became a household name when, after getting cut from their team, the Cincinnati Bengals offered him a spot on their practice squad so he could keep his health insurance to pay for cancer treatment for his daughter, Leah.
Leah was diagnosed with stage-4 neuroblastoma in June 2014 and given a 50-50 chance of survival. Devon shared the journey of their fight against cancer with his fans, and in March he was finally able to announce that, after a long, hard road, Leah had beaten it.
Devon and his fiancée, Asha Joyce, had put their wedding on hold when Leah was diagnosed, but once she had been given the all-clear they decided it was finally time to tie the knot.
The couple got married in a beautiful and emotional ceremony at the New York City Public Library on Friday. While everyone was happy to see the couple finally wed, it was 6-year-old Leah in the pink flower girl dress she helped design herself who stole the show.
As Leah watched her dad and new stepmom exchange their vows, she couldn’t hold back her tears of joy. After reciting his vows, Devon extended his hand to Leah. “We made it through the storm,” he said. “We made it through hell.”
In a sweet toast to the new couple, Leah expressed her joy at their union and also used the opportunity to thank everyone who had supported her and walked with her on her journey. “I love my new family,” she said. “Thank you for all your support.”
“To see my daughter walking here at my wedding, healthy, knowing she is cancer free is a tear-jerker for me,” Devon said. “We are using this night to celebrate the strength that we have of making it together as a family. We’re a hell of a team to make it through and to be here, finally happy and at peace.”
Now that Leah is healthy, the family plans to help other kids and their families who are going through the same thing. They have started the Still Strong Foundation to help families with the many expenses they face during treatment. “Our family’s mission is to help make the lives of families with children who have pediatric cancer easier,” said Devon. “It always will be.”
We loved seeing little Leah cancer-free and able to take part in this special day! Did you? So share this!