From Cancer Warrior to Playset Princess: Miah’s New Friendship


When Stephanie and Jeremiah’s daughter, seven-year-old Miah, expressed difficulty using her hand, they took her to the emergency room. What began as a simple concern over a sprained wrist quickly turned into the toughest battle of their lives. After several X-rays and tests the doctors could not find anything wrong with her hand—this is when the doctor ordered an MRI of her brain. The results revealed a large tumor thus diagnosing Miah with Pilocytic Astrocytoma a form of pediatric cancer.

The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Miah’s diagnosis was devastating to her family. Her father, Jeremiah, recalls the moment the world seemed to stop, describing the moment as, “the new normal for us was understanding that the world was still going on around us, even though we felt like we were standing still.” As Miah began her pediatric cancer treatments, the emotional toll on the Carmine family was overwhelming. The harsh medications and physical changes were difficult to witness, but amidst the sadness, the family found rays of light in unexpected places.
The Gift of a Playset
The Carmine family lives across the street from a public park, and before Miah’s cancer diagnosis, it was a place where she loved to play. But as her treatments progressed, she could only watch the other kids at the playground from her window. Cancer treatment can weaken kids’ immune systems making it unsafe for them to play on public playgrounds due to the exposure of germs. It was heartbreaking for Miah’s mamma bear, Stephanie, to explain that Miah couldn’t join her friends outside. That’s when Roc Solid stepped in, providing a gift that would transform Miah’s fight: a playset built just for her family.
On a hot summer day, the Carmine family watched as around 30-40 volunteers—friends, family, and strangers—gathered to build Miah’s playset. “It was amazing to see so many people come together,” Jeremiah recalled.
During the build Miah was able to help screw in the first few boards of her playset and later attached a “Hope Established” plaque as the finishing touch for her playset. For her, the playset became a symbol of her resilience and the love of those around her. “To see the glow on Miah’s face was priceless,” said Jeremiah. It was a moment that brought hope back into their lives.

A Volunteer’s Unexpected Role: Building Connections That Last
The impact of a Roc Solid playset build extends far beyond the event itself. Abby Rosa, who sponsored Miah’s build, shared how months later she is still following Miah’s journey. “When we learned she was having surgery, we all kept her in our thoughts, and the day we learned she was in remission we cheered for her. It’s safe to say that Miah and her family have a special place in all of our hearts that were there to build for her that day.”
During Miah’s build day, a volunteer named Jeremiah (yes, another one!) who worked at the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) played an integral role in constructing the playset. What Miah’s family didn’t know was that their story with Jeremiah was only just beginning.
Weeks later, Miah recognized Jeremiah during a physical therapy session at CHKD. “He helped build my playset!” she exclaimed, lighting up the room. For Miah, this volunteer wasn’t just someone who helped with construction—he was a symbol of the kindness, compassion and community she encountered during her battle with pediatric cancer. Now, every time she sees him at the hospital, she proudly shares her story about the volunteer who helped build a playset in her very own backyard.


Embracing the New Normal
The Carmine family’s journey has forever changed them. “They treat each other with kindness and they definitely embrace each other a lot more,” Stephanie noted. They no longer take time for granted and cherish every moment together. “We hold each other a little tighter. We spend a little more time together. We don’t live like we have another day, because at one point, we didn’t know,” Jeremiah shared. In December of 2024, Miah rang the bell, signaling her victory over cancer. Her tumor was successfully removed, and today, she is NED (No Evidence of Disease). The playset remains her favorite place to spend time with her sisters, helping her reclaim the childhood she deserves.
Watch Miah’s family story on our YouTube here.
If you are interested in making a donation to help provide Roc Solid Ready Bags and backyard play structures to families like Miah’s click here.
To learn about sponsorship opportunities for Ready Bag Packing Parties and play projects, go to our website to learn more.