NFL Player Asks for Prayers for Daughter After 'Pretty Serious Complication' in Her Cancer Battle

Story by the Associated Press; curated by Dave Urbanski

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Devon Still is asking for prayers for his daughter, Leah, who's had a setback in her fight against cancer.

The 5-year-old girl went into a hospital on May 5 to start the process of getting a stem cell transplant. The 4-to-6-week process involves high doses of chemotherapy at the outset.

Devon Still of the Cincinnati Bengals and his daughter Leah Sari. Copyright 2015 NBAE.(Image source: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Still posted on social media late Friday that Leah "hit a pretty serious complication," with her liver affected by the chemotherapy.

"They caught it early so hopefully it gives the doctors a better chance of stopping it from getting aggressive," Still posted. "As you can imagine our minds are all over the place but we're going to try and remain positive!"

The girl was diagnosed with cancer a year ago. Doctors removed a tumor from her abdomen, and she started getting chemotherapy to kill cancer cells in her bone marrow. She's being treated on the East Coast, and the Bengals have supported Still's decision to miss organized offseason workouts in Cincinnati to be with her.

Image source: ABC News

Still agreed to a one-year contract to stay with the Bengals in March.

His daughter's fight against cancer has gotten international attention. The Bengals donated $1.3 million from sales of Still's jersey to research and treatment of pediatric cancer. The donation was made during a Thursday night game at Paul Brown Stadium last season, with Leah and former Mount St. Joseph freshman basketball player Lauren Hill in attendance.

Still befriended Hill, who also raised money for cancer research. The 19-year-old basketball player died last month from an inoperable brain tumor.

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