Karina Miller & the Miller Family
Karina and Jordan Miller's son, Miles, is a fun-loving toddler who enjoys sports and crunchy snacks. Born seven weeks early, he arrived with rare conditions affecting his esophagus and airway, making eating and breathing difficult.
Miles underwent surgery at just five days old and has needed many procedures since. His care includes specialists and therapies in Oklahoma as well as travel to Boston Children's Hospital for specialized procedures. Frequent appointments, feeding challenges, and illnesses have affected daily life and required both parents to miss work.
His family wants people to know the playful, loving little boy at the center of their story. BEAST Week funds will help with past medical bills and the surgeries and other procedures Miles will need in the future, giving his family support as they continue caring for him.
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Michelle Moore
Michelle Moore, also known as Nurse Michelle, has held on to a simple message throughout her experience with breast cancer: "We can do hard things." She wants her son and her students to see that even when life is difficult, they can keep moving forward.
Diagnosed in January 2025, Michelle underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Her care continues through oncology follow-ups and long-term medication. Bone pain and fatigue have changed everyday routines, and accepting more help from her husband and son has been a difficult adjustment.
Michelle's experience is a reminder that the effects of cancer continue after chemotherapy and radiation end. Medical bills remain, along with the physical demands of ongoing care. BEAST Week funds will help ease those expenses and support Michelle and her family as she continues receiving the care she needs.
Ariah Brown
Ariah loves playing outside and passing time with video games, and she has kept her family laughing through some very difficult days. When treatment caused her hair to fall out, she joked about all the wigs she could wear. She looks forward to the day her aunt can braid her hair again.
In September 2025, Ariah was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Her care has included repeated hospital stays, chemotherapy, medications, and care for complications. Her family has faced lost work and financial strain while working to keep her safe and cared for.
BEAST Week support will help her family work toward a home of their own and meet transportation needs as her treatment continues. Her family hopes others will see the happiness Ariah continues to find in everyday moments, even during a difficult chapter of her life.
Crystal Recknagel, the Recknagel Family
Crystal and Corban Recknagel's daughter, Kira, has expressive eyes, a feisty personality, and a love of music and cuddles. Her parents delight in her excited noises and every new way she connects with the people around her. Kira was diagnosed before birth with Trisomy 18, a genetic condition that affects many of the body's systems and her development. Born five weeks early, she spent two months in neonatal intensive care and has needed multiple surgeries. Her family has learned to manage complex medical needs while celebrating milestones such as bottle-feeding, rolling, and responding to familiar voices. Her parents want the community to know Kira as a deeply loved little girl with her own likes, dislikes, and personality. BEAST Week support will help with medical expenses and future accessibility needs, including mobility equipment and an accessible van.
Cavett Kids Foundation
Since 1997, The Cavett Kids Foundation has provided FREE camps, programs and special events for children battling chronic and life-threatening illnesses (many who are alumni of Mustang schools). Their mission is to develop character, coping and connection for kids battling life-threatening illnesses. Today, they are now an established non-profit with over 20 years of service and an impact reaching nearly 15,000 children each year. They offer seven camps, four ongoing programs and annual events at no cost! The camps and programs provide traditional childhood fun like fishing, arts, crafts, swimming and a camp dance. So many of the campers cannot attend a traditional summer camp because there is often nobody qualified to care for them. But at Cavett Kids, they provide a fully staffed volunteer medical team. The camps are truly more than just a camp…they are a place “where illness does not define the child.”
