What to Know
Finding out your child has cancer has to be one of the scariest moments of a parent’s life. Hearing the word “cancer” brings up all sorts of feelings and questions. Is this something my child will survive? Is this something we can afford? Will my child lose their hair? How do I explain what’s about to happen to them? Mom Kristen Draime likely asked herself all of those questions when her toddler was unexpectedly diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer that occurs mostly in young kids.
She’s using social media to share her family’s story.
@kristenpaige28 Miley’s story @Andrew Draime #retinoblastoma #childhoodcancer #cancer #knowtheglow #prostheticeye ♬ original sound – Kristen
Draime shared the journey of finding out that her two-year-old daughter Miley had cancer on her TikTok, which she uses to spread awareness about her illness.
At the end of August 2025, the mom noticed her daughter’s left eye was starting to wander, she explained in a post. After telling her pediatrician, they were referred to an ophthalmologist, who set an appointment in December.
As time passed before the appointment, the “lazy” eye got more noticeable. But everything changed on November 8 when they noticed white in her eye when she looked up. Draime read an article that night where a mom mentioned not seeing the glow of the bad eye in the baby monitor.
When Miley went to bed that night, Draime noticed the same thing and knew that Miley had a tumor. A trip to the emergency room confirmed her biggest fear: her little girl had cancer.
The diagnosis was hard to wrap her mind around.
@kristenpaige28 I can’t explain the thankfulness I have that Miley and I have gained an amazing community due to tiktok blowing our video up. We have met so many people like her, we have had so many donations so I can stay home with her, and we have been given so much support and positivity. Thank you for supporting us❤️ #childhoodcancer #cancerawareness #retinoblastoma #update #knowtheglow ♬ original sound – Kristen
“It was dreadful. I felt alone,” Draime told People in an exclusive interview. “I didn’t know anyone with a child with cancer personally — I didn’t know anyone with one eye. It was truly scary and I felt so scared for her future.”
Retinoblastoma most commonly happens in children under the age of two, according to the Mayo Clinic. This type of eye cancer “starts as a growth of cells in the retina,” which “is the light-sensitive lining on the inside of the eye.”
Most of the time it only affects one eye. Most kids don’t need to have the affected eye removed to get rid of the cancer.
Miley wasn’t most kids.
@kristenpaige28 Explaining to my sweet 2 year old daughter with cancer that she is going to need her eye removed. The hardest thing we’ve had to face. The hardest thing to explain. #childhoodcancer #cancer #retinoblastoma #prosetheticeye #fuckcancer ♬ original sound – Kristen
On November 21, 2025, less than two weeks after finding out she had cancer, little Miley had surgery to remove her eye.
“Her tumor ended up being grade E. Which typically means that the eye needs to be removed,” Draime explained. “They don’t believe she had vision for a few months. It was hard to process this because she didn’t even act like she had vision from one eye.”
Naturally, the mom started wracking her brain to see if there was something she missed. But there wasn’t.
After performing a biopsy, doctors determined the cancer had entered a high-risk area. That meant Miley would need chemotherapy. According to Draime, they were told she needed six rounds of chemo — the last one starts in May.
The decision to share Miley’s retinoblastoma diagnosis publicly wasn’t an easy one.
@kristenpaige28 Oh… so much besides the physical has changed. She has had to be brave, grow up quicker, learn more than she should have had to. My sweet, brave, strong girl. Flashback from the beginning to now. Thank you all for the continued support. Miley and I will post a video together soon🥹 #cancer #retinoblastoma #childhoodcancer #fuckcancer #prostheticeye ♬ Heartfelt Moments – Melody Silver Copper
According to the mom, she’s “someone who really thrives having a community when I am going through something.” While it’s hard to open up to struggles, she knew sharing Miley’s story would “help others who are facing hard times.”
Also, it was important to “give Miley a sense of community.”
“Since posting Miley’s journey, I have met SO many amazing men and women; girls and boys; with one eye. Miley now has so many people I can connect her with in her life so she never feels alone!” she said.
Not only are they lifting up her and Miley now, but those she meets are giving her hope for the future.
“I have had people share their personal testimonies how having one eye has never stopped them. It has truly helped to give me positivity in something that seemed so so dreadful. The response from everyone else has also been so positive. There has been so much love and support. It’s truly helped me to keep going and to be strong.”
Draime’s sister Faith Morrison has started a GoFundMe to help the family as they navigate through everything that comes with Miley’s diagnosis.
“Our family is absolutely heartbroken. Miley is a bright, loving, funny, empathetic, and joyful little girl who brings light to everyone around her,” the fundraiser reads.
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