On October 3, 2024, our lives took a turn we never expected. That was the day my 3-year-old daughter, Camryn, was diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma. One moment, we were living a busy life full of everyday routines and weekend adventures. The next, we were packing bags for the hospital, stepping into a world of chemotherapy and words that no parent should ever have to learn.
As a mom, all I wanted to do was protect Cam. But suddenly our family’s world shifted in ways we never could have imagined. Our days revolved around medications and chemo infusions, and the weight of fear seemed to press down on every moment. While life went on for everyone else, our world stood still, fractured in ways we never imagined.
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Camryn’s brother and sister had their own challenges. At just 9 and 7 years old, they were trying to understand why their sister couldn’t come home, why their parents seemed distracted, and why everything felt so different. My husband and I were stretched thin, trying to keep life moving forward for them while also holding Camryn through the hardest days of her life. Through it all, this brave little girl faced the unimaginable with a smile that continues to light up every room she enters.
That’s where Dreams Come True of Jacksonville stepped in.
Dreams Come True didn’t just look at her diagnosis; they saw her. They recognized our family as a whole, acknowledging the bravery and resilience it takes to go through this journey. In every interaction, they choose to celebrate children like Camryn, not for the illness they are facing, but for the spirit and light they carry within them.
For us, Dreams Come True has been more than just an organization. They have truly been a lifeline of encouragement. While the “Dream” itself is magical and something our entire family looks forward to with so much joy, what makes Dreams Come True so powerful is everything that happens long before that moment. It’s the thoughtful check-ins, the way they show up to celebrate milestones, and the gentle reminders that we are not on this journey alone. They cheer for Camryn as if she were their own, and in doing so, they have given our family so much hope.
In the middle of this fight, those reminders mean more than words could ever explain. Childhood cancer has a way of consuming everything. It disrupts routines, interrupts milestones, and tries to steal joy from the simplest moments. Yet Dreams Come True steps into that space and reminds us that our children’s joy still matters, their dreams still matter, and their childhood is still worth celebrating.
That message changes everything for families like ours.
Help Make Dreams Come True
On September 13, Jacksonville will have the chance to rally around children like Camryn through the Dreams Come True 5K. More than just a race, this is a celebration of resilience, community, and the belief that every child deserves to dream, no matter what challenges they face. When you walk or run in the 5K, you are helping fuel the hope that carries families like mine forward.
Camryn is still in treatment, and our journey is ongoing. We have many more months ahead, filled with both hard days and joyful ones. But knowing Dreams Come True is on this journey alongside us has made all the difference. They remind us daily that even in the darkest of times, there is light to be found.
If you’re looking for a way to make an impact right here in Jacksonville, I encourage you to join the Dreams Come True 5K. Walk for Camryn and every child who deserves to be seen as more than their diagnosis. Walk because hope and joy are powerful, and because your steps can help make dreams come true.
About the Author
Miranda Aldridge, M.Ed., is a former educator, wife, and mom of three. She is the founder of Courage for Cam, a nonprofit dedicated to spreading love and joy to children fighting cancer, inspired by her daughter Camryn’s ongoing battle with B-cell lymphoma. Her family’s story has reached over 1.5 million people on TikTok and Instagram, where she shares glimpses of light and courage through Camryn’s journey. Some of Miranda’s happiest moments are found in quiet mornings with coffee and writing, afternoons by the water, and evenings cheering for her kids at dance and soccer. Through her writing and advocacy, Miranda hopes to inspire families with resilience, hope, and the reminder that even in the hardest circumstances, joy is still possible.
