Devon Still focuses on football now that daughter is cancer-free
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Where do you run when life is so unfair? How do you celebrate when given a second chance?
Devon Still and his daughter, Leah, faced all of it together: the cancer, the chemo, the dark days and the latest great diagnosis from doctors.
Now it's time to make a statement and make a living to provide for his family.
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"When I decided to take off from football to really cater to my daughter help her get her treatment, I was hoping I would be given another opportunity to play in the NFL," said Still. "Mr. McNair and Coach OB reached out to me and gave me that opportunity. I was very thankful and I'm gonna try to make the best of this opportunity."
So far in training camp, Still has done just that, earning praise from Bill O'Brien for his work ethic and role as a defensive end.
"I have no weight on my shoulders now," said Still. "For the past two years I had to worry about my daughter. Right now she's doing good and I can focus all on football."
Before Leah, before cancer, this is all he knew. Now, Still looks at football from a different perspective.
"When you have something taken away from you that you worked so hard for, you know when you get a chance to get that back you don't take anything for granted. You earn your keep," said Still.
He does more than that off the field. Still actively helps families facing cancer with their own children.
WATCH: Devon Still brightens day of kids at TCH battling cancer
"We wanted to have a spa day for the parents and get manicures and massages to help them escape their reality for a little bit," said Still.
Leah's new reality is that her cancer in remission. Millions celebrated with her when she danced at her father's wedding in the off season.
"For me, it was basically an ending to a bad time in our lives with my daughter battling cancer, but it was also a step in the right direction. A step in a new beginning for our lives," said Still.
Now it's time to earn a living for his family.
"I feel good. Like I said the opportunity is huge right here for the right end position. I'm gonna come out here and work every day to try to give myself the best opportunity to get it," said Still.
