CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When faced with deciding between the two loves of his life, for Ben Pike, it wasn't even close. Football would not win this time.

That's how you know his love is true and strong.

When Pike's fiancee, Ashlee Barrett, learned in April 2012 she was battling leukemia, Pike began to prepare for the end of his football career at the University of Toledo. Barrett, a former Toledo basketball player, already had graduated and was back in her hometown of St. Louis, teaching second grade. Pike wanted to be with her as she navigated the long road of chemotherapy and recovery.

When Barrett, 23, learned Jan. 25 that the leukemia had returned, that the short respite of remission was over, the decision was solidified.

Pike, a Mentor High School product, has one more year of eligibility left at Toledo, one more season he could build upon what had been the best of his career as a defensive lineman in 2012. But the 22-year-old will graduate in May and take his education degree with him to St. Louis. He still plans to marry the love of his life June 15, and will be by Barrett's side each day through a bone marrow transplant and recovery from leukemia.

"I know in some people's terms, he's giving up things," said Becky Pike, Ben's mother. "But he's really not giving up. He's not giving up anything. He's really fighting for life. And he's just turned his forces to he's going to win a battle for life instead of winning on the football field."

After all, Pike and Barrett already have a love story made for a fairy tale.

The two met during Bible study meetings when Pike was a freshman and Barrett, a junior transfer from Evansville, was new to the school. Pike immediately was drawn to Barrett's infectious energy, her kindness and her blonde beauty. Barrett appreciated Pike's confidence at speaking in their meetings.

Not long after they met, Barrett learned her basketball career was over before it would even begin at Toledo because she needed a career-ending surgery. They bonded even more through Barrett's trying time.

"Through all the adversity we've been through, our relationship is greater than I ever thought it would be," Pike said. "It's pretty cool to see something incredible happen during something earth-shattering."

Soon, they began dating. In December 2011, Pike slyly buttered up some White House security to allow him to propose to Barrett on the driveway of the President's home when they were in Washington D.C., for the Rockets' appearance in the Military Bowl. They set a June 2013 wedding date.

But a few months later, Barrett began to complain of pain in her tailbone, difficulty even sitting for too long. A trip to the hospital in April 2012 uncovered a blood infection that left her septic and so close to death that Pike dropped everything he was doing, raced to the Detroit airport and flew to St. Louis.

It was then that they discovered Barrett's leukemia. When they heard the news, Barrett turned to Pike, took his hand, and said, "I'm glad it's me and not you."

"You see Ben almost sacrifice everything and give it up for (Ashlee, in hospital room) and be by her side," Toledo coach Matt Campbell says. "That was such an inspiration for us because in football and we talk winning and we're always talking about toughness. But what we learned was sacrifice."

"It's pretty amazing when somebody in the worst moment in their lives can be so selfless," Pike said.

He began weekly visits to St. Louis from Toledo, all through the summer, all through the 9-4 football season. The Rockets team put an "A" sticker on their helmets for Ashlee during Cancer Awareness Month in November. At the Central Michigan game, Toledo coach Matt Campbell brought her into the post-game locker room to celebrate the victory and the inspiration she provided the Rockets.

"You see Ben almost sacrifice everything and give it up for her and be by her side," Campbell said. "That was such an inspiration for us because in football and we talk winning and we're always talking about toughness. But what we learned was sacrifice. We were seeing this unfold right before our eyes.

"I think the sacrifices they were making for each other, and watching the power of Ashlee fight this with such a great attitude, was truly inspirational for each and every one of us. I think it really touched our entire football team."

By September, Barrett was finished with her chemotherapy and back to teaching. But she still was tired, and still complained of soreness. A test in January revealed that her leukemia was back.

She's back in the hospital in St. Louis, almost midway through another 40-day stay with chemotherapy. The goal is to have a bone marrow transplant sometime around April, and two matches already have been found.

She's at her weakest and lowest now, and was not available for this story. Pike is back to visiting each weekend, making time to travel after his long days of student teaching at a Toledo-area middle school. He's still on schedule to graduate in May.

"It's a very, very helpless feeling because there's nothing you can do that can make it better or go away," Pike said. "The only thing you an do is be there for her 100 percent. The whole way she's handled the first round, going through everything, the way she's handled herself with such grace and beauty and a positive outlook on life. It's been truly humbling. I can definitely say she's my hero."

Becky Pike watches how her son juggles his school schedule with his weekend visits to Barrett, and can't help but admire what she said wasn't even a dilemma for him to give up football for love.

"He just loves unconditionally," she said. "I think anyone who knows them, that would be their definition; they really just do exude from them the love of God and their love for each other. It's very humbling as a parent to watch your child display things you think you've taught.

"When you see them together, you just go, 'OK, we're going to fight this and we're going to win it.'"