As His Son Battles Leukemia, Aaron Smith Says, 'This Is Truly a Blessing'

TAMPA, Fla. -- A doctor told Aaron Smith the words "acute lymphoblastic leukemia," and he didn't know what they meant.

Smith, a Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end, had taken his 4-year-old son Elijah to the emergency room one night in October because he was suffering from a fever. Parents often fear the worst when their children are sick, but the news Smith got was even worse than he could have imagined, because he had never heard of acute lymphoblastic leukemia until he was told that Elijah had it.

"We were in the emergency room that night and the doctor said that we had to see an oncologist," Smith said. "I didn't understand why we were seeing an oncologist and he came in and he asked us, 'How much do you know about leukemia?' So we started with that on a little bit of a whirlwind during the first couple of weeks. And for most people, you don't even know what leukemia is. I had no idea. I knew it was a form of cancer, but I didn't know anything about it, let alone that a child could have leukemia. So learning about it and figuring out what you're dealing with is kind of overwhelming."

But Smith didn't sound like a man who was overwhelmed by his experience as he recounted it for a conversation with reporters here in Tampa. He sounded like a man who was strengthened by it.

"It's been a journey, that's for sure," Smith said. "But through it all, the Lord has truly strengthened my family and has blessed us abundantly with all that's going on now."

That journey has included a lot of time spent at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, where Elijah has had weekly chemotherapy treatments. And Smith says that while his wife and their three daughters have all been affected by Elijah's illness, Elijah has been the toughest member of the family in dealing with it.

"He does chemo on a regular basis," Smith said. "There are different stages you go through for treatment, and remission is about a three and a half year process. ... He's unbelievable. The Lord has worked amazingly in his spirits and his cheerfulness. He's just unbelievable."

Elijah, who turned five in December, is now doing well enough that he'll be in the stands at Raymond James Stadium to watch his dad play in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

"His cell counts are good," Smith said. "His doctors wouldn't let him come if his cell counts weren't good enough. Obviously we're not going to be doing stuff that a lot of people do, but he'll come up to the stadium and watch the game and he'll be here. So this is truly a blessing."

Super Bowl XLIII Images

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin talks with players as they stretch before football practice at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, Feb 1, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Arizona Cardinals backup quarterback Matt Leinart (7) throws the ball as quarterbacks coach Jeff Rutlege looks on during football practice at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training facility Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. The Cardinals face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) stretches with teammates including Matt Leinart, back left, and Deuce Lutui (76) during football practice at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training facility Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. The Cardinals face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald runs with the ball after making a catch during football practice at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training facility Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. The Cardinals face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin watches warm ups before the football team's first practice at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII Feb. 1, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Arizona Cardinals' Ben Graham, of Australia, punches the football back to the long snapper during afternoon practice at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training facility Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. The Cardinals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Sirius NFL football Super Bowl XLIII analysts Shannon Sharpe, left to right, John Riggins, Gil Brandt, Solomon Wilcots and Randy Cross are seen Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward looks on during warm ups for football practice at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, Feb 1, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Arizona Cardinals' Ben Graham, of Australia, works on snap drills for field goal attempts during afternoon practice at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers training facility Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. The Cardinals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A nearly empty hallway is seen at the Tampa Convention Center for NFL football Super Bowl XLIII Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. Even the richest league and the glitziest event in American sports are feeling the effects of a tailspinning economy. Tickets are not fetching the inflated prices of yesteryear, corporate sponsors are in retreat and parties that had been tributes to conspicuous consumption are lowering the volume.(AP Photo/Morry Gash)