When life gets tough and knocks you down, which it will, there are two options: You can stay down, or you can get up, push through, and try again. Every once in a while, we meet an athlete who chose to put up a fight for their dream and overcame all odds to become a champion. 

This inspiring story, written by the athlete's mother, has motivated us—and it’s our mission to spread her story to you.

When Cameron Manhanke was born, she appeared perfect in every way, just like her older brother and sister. Soon, things began to change; it became apparent that she was very ill.

Cameron wasn’t growing or gaining weight and cried in pain most of the time. She contracted RSV, a dangerous respiratory illness, and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. She was admitted to the Pediatric ICU and, during our 11-day stay, the doctors diagnosed Cameron with cystic fibrosis.  

Cystic fibrosis is a progressive, genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. In people with CF, a defective gene causes a thick, sticky buildup of mucus in the lungs, pancreas, and other organs. In the lungs, the mucus clogs the airways and traps bacteria leading to infections, extensive lung damage, and eventually, respiratory failure. In the pancreas, the mucus prevents the release of digestive enzymes that allow the body to break down food and absorb vital nutrients.

We were devastated by the news. The next few years, we did everything we could to keep Cameron healthy. Despite all the medications, breathing treatments, and doctor’s visits, she still required frequent hospital stays. By 1st grade, she was absent from school more often than she was present, we decided to homeschool Cameron.   

To keep her active, we enrolled her in a gymnastics class; she loved tumbling. At 9 she was introduced to the world of cheer. Suddenly, her health began to take a turn for the better. Her lung function improved, she started gaining weight, and she required fewer hospital stays.  

The doctors were convinced it was because of cheer; we were, too.

We dove in. We converted our living room and dining room to a cheer gym, adding a 12 by 26-foot spring floor. Cameron joined her second family, University Cheer Force, in 2011, double teaming on Y2 and J4. She tumbled, practiced, and did privates weekly—and her health continued to improve. When she visited The Summit for the first time in 2012 with her J4 team, she received her first national title.  

In 2016, we decided to let Cameron go back to school. Despite her busy cheer schedule and an intense regime of breathing treatments, we needed to let her try. Unfortunately, her health took a turn for the worse, and she was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia in early spring.  She completed five weeks of IV antibiotics just in time to attend both The Cheerleading Worlds and The Summit. This past year, she decided she wanted to cheer for high school as well as being on the Worlds team at UCF.  

She attended UCA High School Nationals for the first time with Oak Ridge High School and took second place. Her Worlds team at UCF became the first-ever XS Coed team to win Worlds.  

Cameron is defying the odds, but not without dedication and hard work.   

Every day, she does between seven and nine breathing treatments, takes 22 pills to digest food, and currently takes 15 different medications. She practices and trains an average of 15-20 hours per week. Cameron takes AP and honors classes and maintains a 4.0 GPA. She plans to continue cheering her last two years of high school as well as cheer in college.

We have no idea what the future holds for Cameron; we can only live for today. She lives life to the absolute fullest and takes nothing for granted.  

By Melissa Mahanke