A former running back and kick returner in the NFL, LeShon Johnson, had his wife, Nalani Johnson, through the most significant battles of his life, i.e., a fight against cancer.
And by his side through it all was his loving wife, Nalani Johnson.
Speaking of the start of their relationship, LeShon and Nalani crossed paths in a gym in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
As clichéd as it sounds, their connection was destined. The couple fell in love and got married on April 27, 1998.
However, their seemingly happy beginning of a married life became hazy just after eight days when doctors diagnosed LeShon with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer.
At the time, they already had two young children: Kaleo, their 4-year-old daughter, and Klayton, their 1-year-old son.
When LeShon was diagnosed with a tumor in his chest, it turned their world upside down.
Nonetheless, Nalani became LeShon’s rock during his illness, helping him stay positive and fight to return to football.
Nalani Stood by LeShon Johnson’s Side Through Cancer!
Nalani was there when they received the devastating diagnosis. She was there during his surgeries, during his chemotherapy, during his weight loss and hair loss, and even when he nearly passed out from exhaustion.
In an interview in 1999, Nalani recalled that Thanksgiving of 1998 was one of the hardest moments for them.
His white blood cell count was too low, so they couldn’t travel or be around family. They stayed home, prepared a huge meal, and expected guests; however, no one could come because of the bad weather.
It was a gloomy, rainy day. Despite this, she and LeShon decided to make the best of it.
They played with their kids and went to a movie that evening, focusing on staying positive and grateful for being together.
Nalani and LeShon focused on the positive side of their life that they had each other, they had their kids, and they were still holding on, saying:
We both sat down and said, ‘We’re gonna try and make the best of this day regardless. We’re still alive, we’re together, we have the children.
Nalani
After his diagnosis, LeShon underwent surgery in July 1998, during which he briefly woke up due to insufficient anesthesia.
Later, in September, he developed a severe infection from a chemotherapy tube, losing 20 pounds in just 11 days.
Throughout his treatment, LeShon never gave up. He kept training, running, and lifting weights, even when he was going through chemotherapy and radiation.
Nalani stayed with him every day in the hospital, watching him struggle to eat and grow weak. She supported him in all ways, be it emotionally, mentally, or physically.
She remembered how determined he was to get back to football, saying:
That’s all he cared about, was getting back to play football again. I was scared that maybe that dream may never come to pass. That was my biggest fear for him.
Nalani
After a devastating time, on February 21, 1999, LeShon and Nalani finally got the call they had prayed for. LeShon’s doctor, Dr. David Wolf, called to say the cancer was gone.
LeShon was so happy he jumped with joy and rushed to Giants Stadium to share the news, “I’m free of cancer!”
That year’s Thanksgiving was a joyful celebration. Unlike the year before, they welcomed friends and shared a traditional holiday meal, grateful for life, health, and family.
Above all, though painful, the battle against cancer brought LeShon and Nalani even closer.
Most couples don’t have to go through something so painful in their first year of marriage, but they did, and they got through it together.
Grateful for each day and promising never to take life for granted, Nalani said:
We definitely have a lot more to be thankful for. We never take anything for granted. We’re thankful for every single day we have together.
Nalani
In Case You Didn’t Know
- He made a comeback and played for the New York Giants in the 1999 season after being cancer-free.
- Previously pleaded guilty in 2004 to state-level charges for running a dog-fighting operation called “Krazyside Kennels”, receiving a deferred sentence.
- LeShon Johnson was indicted on March 25, 2025, after authorities seized 190 pit bulls from his “Mal Kant Kennels,” citing the largest federal dog‑fighting bust ever in the U.S.
