In a sad yet inspiring incident, a tiny bump that later developed into a horrifying cancer battle made a couple and their child suffer a lot. This is the story of Miranda Aldridge and her daughter Camryn. It all began when Miranda first noticed a small bump near her daughter Camryn’s eye; it didn’t seem serious—just a bit unusual. But as the weeks went by, the bump didn’t disappear.
By late August 2024, the bump had grown in size. Miranda decided to take then-3-year-old Camryn to the pediatrician. The doctor suspected a cyst and referred them to a dermatologist for a closer look. Alas, the healthcare system in America involves a lot of waiting, and hence, the earliest dermatology appointment wasn’t available until April of the following year.
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“We couldn’t believe it,” said Miranda in an interview with PEOPLE. “It didn’t seem right for a child to wait that long.” However, the Florida family did not lose hope, so they booked the appointment and tried to stay hopeful. But by early September, the bump had grown significantly.
Anxious and worried, Miranda Aldridge and her 40-year-old husband, Bryan, began calling up doctors daily in the hope of getting a canceled slot in their name. Finally, one office called and offered a same-day visit. “I said, ‘Yes’ immediately,” Miranda recalls to the outlet. “It was the start of the school year—I’m a teacher—but I dropped everything and took her in.”
The visit was crucial, as the dermatologist saw the bump and said it was a cyst. Pilomatricoma, also known as pilomatrixoma, is a type of noncancerous tumor associated with hair follicles that usually happens to people under the age of 20. Soon after, Camryn was referred to a plastic surgeon at a nearby children’s hospital, and her surgery was scheduled for September 27, 2024. By then, the bump had doubled in size.
The procedure of removing the tumor took 15-20 minutes, which was a smooth ride. The surgeon told Miranda and Bryan that Camryn had done well and believed the mass was just fatty tissue. Miranda and Bryan thought the hurricane was over and their child was safe, but the results were sent to pathology as a precaution.
However, horror returned when the bumps started to reappear four days after the surgery, yet again. Miranda thought it might be a part of swelling, but a simple phone call on October 3, 2024, turned her world upside down. As per PEOPLE Magazine, the anxious mother received a phone call from the surgeon who asked to do a video call to discuss the results.
Miranda wasn’t expecting serious bad news until the doctor uttered the word “malignant,” which is used to describe a cancer that can cause deterioration or death. “I knew what it meant, but it didn’t sink in,” she said to the outlet. “Then they told us oncology would be contacting us.”
Later, the hospital told Camryn’s parents that the little girl had leukemia, Miranda recalled. “I barely remember anything after that except asking, ‘Do we need to come now?’ She said, ‘Yes. Pack a bag. Plan to stay at least a week.”
Miranda, who was at work when the news shattered her heart, rushed home and picked her daughter up with her husband. “That moment changed everything,” she said. Once the couple arrived at the hospital, the doctor spent some time informing the parents about Camryn’s cancer diagnosis, treatment plan and so on.
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Originally, doctors suspected acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, after a bone marrow aspiration and clean spinal fluid results, Camryn’s diagnosis was revised to B-cell lymphoma—a common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in America. After her CT scan and MRI results, she started the treatment immediately.
Her plan includes five phases: weekly chemo, spinal taps, and eventually maintenance until December 2026. Miranda said that three-year-old Camryn was cheerful, strong and hopeful despite everything. As the process began and doctor visits became routine, the couple began recording and documenting everything.
First, it was on Facebook, then on TikTok, and then on Instagram. They shared photos and short videos capturing moments of joy where little Camryn was seen smiling and even moments of vulnerability. One particular video showcased the little girl’s haircut. “She’s always been really girly, so we knew losing her hair would be hard,” Miranda said.
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However, Camryn saw a cancer patient on TikTok whose hair was chopped off in the presence of her family members. Inspired by it, on her fourth birthday in March 2025, she requested that Miranda and Bryan cut her hair. The couple recorded the moments, and the video blew up on social media with over 60 million views and more than 148,000 comments.
Since then, Miranda’s social media followers have grown to over a million followers, all because of brave Camryn and her spirit. Miranda claimed that people loved her, and the local community rallied behind them, organizing fundraisers, providing meals, sending care packages, and sending thousands of messages.
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Inspired by the massive amount of support, Miranda launched a nonprofit, Courage for Cam, which was an organization made to support children facing cancer. (pediatric cancer.) She and Camryn even created a coloring book, with proceeds going to the foundation.
The mother-daughter duo wishes to send these books to the young cancer fighters who are battling different types of cancer. Camryn’s story has also inspired countless other people, including a mother whose daughter was diagnosed shortly after her.
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Now, they both FaceTime each other and keep each other updated on their progress. With increased cases of cancer around the globe, it’s important to keep getting your routine check every six months.
Camryn’s story serves as a reminder of strength and resilience, one that inspires several other kids like her. And of course. Special mention to Miranda, a mother, a wife and a one-person army on her own, who never stopped supporting her little girl.
Disclaimer: This story is written from secondary sources based on an individual’s personal experience. Please consider proper medical research and diagnosis if you need further information.
