Kristen Draime, a hospice social worker from Cleveland, Ohio, noticed her three‑year‑old daughter Miley’s left eye appearing completely black on their baby monitor while the right eye reflected normally. The unsettling sight prompted an immediate trip to a local pediatric emergency department.
Early detection through vigilance
Earlier in the fall of 2025, Draime had observed a faint white glow in Miley’s eye while bathing her. After researching the symptom online, she learned that retinoblastoma—a rare childhood eye cancer—often first shows as an abnormal eye reflection in low light. The baby monitor confirmed her suspicion.
Rapid medical response
Emergency physicians ordered an ultrasound and a thorough ophthalmic exam, which revealed that the tumor had nearly filled the left eye. The team called in an on‑call ophthalmologist, who confirmed that removal of the eye was necessary to prevent the cancer from spreading.
Ocular oncologist Dr. Arun Singh of the Cleveland Clinic’s Cole Eye Institute examined Miley under anesthesia and agreed that enucleation (removal of the eye) offered the best chance for cure. He noted that retinoblastoma has the highest cure rate of any childhood cancer when treated promptly.
Treatment and recovery
Miley’s eye was removed on November 21, 2025 at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. A postoperative biopsy indicated that additional chemotherapy was required due to the tumor’s size and location. She began a six‑session chemotherapy regimen under pediatric hematologist‑oncologist Dr. Stacey Zahler, completing treatment in May 2026.
In June 2026, Miley rang the “Bravery Bell” at Cleveland Clinic Children’s, celebrating the end of her treatment. She now wears a permanent prosthetic eye that restores the socket’s shape and provides a natural appearance.
Family’s gratitude
Kristen Draime expressed deep gratitude for the early detection, saying, “I will never stop being thankful that I get to keep my daughter in this world. She lost her eye, but she gets to live a normal life.” Andrew Draime echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of parental vigilance and prompt medical care.
The family’s experience underscores the critical role parents play in noticing subtle health changes and seeking timely professional evaluation.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
