Two years on from his little girl's heartbreaking cancer diagnosis, much-loved American sports star, Devon Still, has paid tribute to his daughter who valiantly battled the disease before declaring she had "beat cancer" last month.
Devon, who was playing from the Cincinnati Bengals at this time of his daughter's diagnosis in 2014, was told his only child had a 50/50 chance of survival - something which Devon struggles to comprehend as he helps his little girl prepare for her incredibly important role in her daddy's upcoming wedding ceremony.
Due to marry long-term girlfriend Asha Joyce in spring, Devon tells People magazine that his daughter's unending optimism and heartwrenching display of courage in the face of such an ardent battle inspires him on a daily basis.
"She's just had the best attitude of fight and then move forward with life," the 26-year-old star explains. "And look where we are now. I'm getting married to my love and Leah gets to be a part of this wedding. We overcame tragedy and are becoming a family."
Unsurprisingly, Leah's battle with stage 4 neuroblastoma at such a young age helped shift her father's perspective, who told the publication: "When you sit back and look at everything and hover above, it's important to remember to cherish every moment you have with your child."
Watching his daughter prepare for her role as flower girl, the athlete, who now plays for the Houston Texans, reflected on their journey, saying : My daughter was almost taken away from me, and I've learned that you can't waste time."
While Devon insists they're not entirely out of the woods just yet, the father-of-one insists positivity is key, explaining: "We aren't quite at our happy ending right now, but we are getting there, and this journey has brought us so much closer."
"We've been through so much in the past two years and things are finally starting to turn around. Hopefully people see that you can go from the lowest of lows and with strength and the right attitude can reach a beautiful high," he concludes.
What an incredibly brave duo they are.
