WACO, Texas (KWTX) - For Morgan Jones, the dream of visiting the birthplace of her favorite soft drink was what carried her through years of hospital stays and medical battles.

On Thursday, that dream became a reality when the 23-year-old from Laurel, Maryland, traveled more than 1,500 miles to downtown Waco to celebrate her 23rd birthday at the Dr Pepper Museum.

Jones was diagnosed before age 1 with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome, or TRAPS, a rare genetic autoinflammatory disorder that causes recurring fevers, severe body aches and rashes.