Mom thought the strange 'glow' in her 2-year-old daughter’s eye was harmless. Then she checked the baby monitor — and froze
Doctors referred Miley to specialists, where tests confirmed a deadly tumor in her left eye
When a child's eye subtly drifts, people often brush it off as a harmless muscle issue. But a mother's quick thinking turned an ordinary evening into a race to save her toddler's life. The story was recently featured by Cleveland Clinic Children’s (@clevelandclinicchildrens). The post shared on September 7, 2026, quickly blew up, gaining over 269,000 likes on Instagram. You can check the video here!
A mother's instinct
It all started when Kristen Draime noticed her daughter Miley’s eye occasionally drifting outward. Assuming it was a typical lazy eye, the family didn't worry until one night last fall, when Kristen caught a strange white glow inside Miley's pupil. On a gut feeling, she searched online late that night and stumbled across an article about a rare childhood eye condition. Online articles mentioned some parents noticing a white reflection under low-light camera settings, such as on a baby monitor. Curious, Kristen immediately checked their baby monitor footage, and her heart dropped as she spotted the white glare sitting directly in the pupil of Miley's drifting eye. Shocked, Kristen and her husband, Andrew, rushed their daughter to the hospital early the next morning.
A life-changing diagnosis
Doctors referred Miley to the specialists at Cleveland Clinic Cole Eye Institute, where tests confirmed a tumor had entirely taken over her daughter's left eye. Soon she was diagnosed with Retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer. Under the care of ocular oncologist Dr. Arun Singh, Miley underwent surgery to remove her eye. "Retinoblastoma has the highest cure rate of any childhood cancer," says Dr. Singh.
Although her family hoped surgery alone would be enough, testing showed Miley also needed chemotherapy, as it helps eliminate any remaining cancer cells. Miley completed her sixth and final round of chemo in May, joyously ringing the end-of-treatment Bravery Bell at the hospital. Today, 3-year-old Miley is cancer-free, thriving with a specialised prosthetic eye, and is back to playing hide-and-seek and taking dance classes. "Now she has about the same chance of getting it in her other eye as any other child. I bawled my eyes out when we got that news," Kristen said.
Early detection saves lives
Retinoblastoma accounts for about 3% of all childhood cancers, with roughly 200 to 300 children diagnosed in the U.S. each year. According to the American Cancer Society, about 2 out of 3 cases are diagnosed in children under the age of 2. The retina takes four to five years after birth to fully mature, creating a developmental window where the tumor can form. Medical experts highlighted that early detection is crucial, and warning signs like a drifting eye or white pupil reflection should always be taken seriously. In fact, the National Center for Biotechnology Information says that survival rates in kids with retinoblastoma can reach 95% when diagnosed and treated early.
'You are a superhero'
Thousands united in the comment section to celebrate Miley’s bravery and honor her parents' quick thinking. Medical professionals, survivors, and touched strangers alike flooded the thread with support, including fellow retinoblastoma survivor, @_lisi_111, who shared: "Hi Miley, I had the same cancer (retinoblastoma) in my eye... Now I'm 53 years old, and I only want to let you know that you will have a great long life. You are a superhero, and your parents too. Big hugs from Austria." Others cheered on her milestone moment, with user @deborahshaw25 commenting: "Phew, that was a tough watch. Many congratulations, Miley, for ringing the bell. You go, girl!"
More on Scoop Upworthy
She panicked as ChatGPT insisted she was having a stroke. One test later, she was crying happy tears
Share on Facebook
