CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital announces local 2025 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Child

CHRISTUS Mother Frances Foundation is proud to announce Luna Cruz as its 2025 local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals) Miracle Child representing CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital - Tyler.

Each year, CMN Hospitals members across the nation choose an ambassador to serve as the face for children treated at their local children’s hospital. This ambassador advocates for the charitable needs of children’s hospitals across the service area. By sharing first-hand experiences and inspirational stories, hospital champions and their families show how vital local, unrestricted fundraising is for CMN Hospitals members to meet the needs of their communities.

“We are thrilled to have Luna representing CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital - Tyler as our CMN Hospitals Miracle Child in the new year,” said Robin Rowan, Executive Director, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Foundation. “As a nonprofit hospital, we depend on community support to maintain the high standard of care our patients deserve. Stories like Luna’s demonstrate the profound difference donations make in advancing pediatric health care.”

When Luna turned five, her parents began noticing troubling signs—Luna seemed constantly exhausted and often complained of tired legs and tingling hands. As Luna's symptoms worsened, her condition became more concerning. She was thirsty, needing frequent bathroom breaks, and losing weight. Despite the growing list of ailments, doctors assured her family she was likely just dealing with a series of common illnesses. In March 2023, after their move to East Texas, Luna’s condition worsened further. She was sleeping nearly 22 hours a day. One morning when they found her nearly impossible to wake, her parents rushed her to CHRISTUS Emergency Care Center - Lindale, where doctors discovered that Luna had type 1 diabetes and was in diabetic ketoacidosis—a life-threatening condition. She was immediately transferred to the pediatric unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital - Tyler, where her blood sugar levels were stabilized. Now, nearly two years later, Luna has adjusted to her diagnosis. She wears an insulin pump decorated with stickers and with help from her CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Pediatric Endocrinology team, manages her condition confidently.

As the local CMN Hospitals Miracle Child for CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, Luna will share her story while representing and advocating for CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital across the Tyler community, at various events and with donors.

Learn more about Luna and how you can make a difference for CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital - Tyler.