Luna Cruz, 9, poses with Christina Mosier, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Program Manager after the announcement of Luna as the 2025 Miracle Child on Tuesday. (Raquel Villatoro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

When Mineola resident Luna Cruz was 5 years old, she began experiencing concerning symptoms: extreme fatigue, frequent illnesses, and loss of interest in activities. After multiple doctors’ visits, Luna was sent home and told it was likely a common cold.

“I was always sick all the time — and tired,” said Luna, now 9 years old. “I would never go to school, and then it became worse.”

She experienced excessive thirst, weight loss and tingling hands. Until one day, after moving to East Texas, her parents could not wake her up. They rushed her to a Christus emergency room. At the ER, Cruz was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She was transferred to Christus Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler where she was able to get treatment and stabilize her blood sugar.

Now, Cruz is the 2025 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Child. On Thursday, she will light two Christmas trees in Tyler — the city’s tree, with a ceremony set following the Rose City Christmas Parade which begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, and the Christus tree lighting, set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

A Miracle Child has lit the city’s tree each year since 1987. Every year, a child with an inspiring story is chosen to represent Children’s Miracle Network throughout the upcoming year.

“We wanted to really shine the light on the significance of the fact that Type 1 diabetes can happen to any child,” said Christina Mosier, Program Manager at Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “It’s not a hereditary thing, it’s not anything that you eat. It’s not anything you did wrong. It literally can be any child, any age, any demographic.”

Currently, there are 500 to 600 children with Type 1 diabetes at the clinic, Mosier said. Although this is a small population of Tyler, Mosier believes it is important for people to bring awareness to Type 1 Diabetes. Unlike asthma, the signs for diabetes are not as easily identifiable.

Luna’s parents, Chelsey Clair and Jeramy Cruz, encourage her to make her own decisions about health. She participates in extracurriculars including volleyball, cheerleading and theater.

“Starting her at a young age (and) allowing her to be able to make those choices for herself, set out for a lifetime of success, which is all we want for every child,” Mosier said. “For a lifetime of health and happiness, (for them to) grow up to be happy, happy people.”

Luna was able to attend Camp 903D and meet other diabetic children her age. Through the camp, she became best friends with two of her peers. Meeting others like Luna made her feel less alone.

“It felt really nice to feel I wasn’t the only one,” Luna said.

She has a blue hush monitor and Omnipod — a small wearable device used instead of taking multiple injections of insulin, according to Omnipod’s website — which she has decorated with glitter. When going outside to play with other children, Luna has to be mindful of her blood sugar.

“Now she has the extra worry about feeling different, or just having to stop what she’s doing in the middle of it to make sure that her blood sugar is right,” Mosier said. “It can really be difficult, and to watch her handle it so far with such grace and she’s embracing it almost.”

Luna’s team of healthcare providers are made of registered nurses, Rebecca Meester, who is also a certified diabetes care and education specialist, and Shelby Denning and Dr. Adelina Meadows at Christus Trinity Clinic Pediatric Endocrinology. They describe Luna’s personality as quirky, fun and brave.

For Meester, watching kids grow and grasp what Type 1 diabetes means is fun to watch.

“It’s a lifelong commitment. So I think that’s the biggest challenge for anybody, is that you’re committing to something new for your whole life,” Meester said.

Diabetic children have to be mindful of carbs and watch what they eat during every single meal, said Meadows. In the beginning, the adjustment can be difficult because kids like to eat a lot of snacks.

They hope Luna’s role as the Miracle Child brings awareness to Type 1 diabetes. At their clinic, staff see kids as young as 2 being diagnosed.

“Those are the kids we don’t hear about that are having to live with this every single day,” Denning said.

Some symptoms for Type 1 diabetes include: drinking lots of water, frequent urination and losing weight.

“Don’t ignore it. Have the doctor check them … don’t just blow it off as maybe they have the flu or a cold,” Denning said.

CMN Hospitals help over 50,000 kids across East Texas from premature babies to teenagers. The money stays local through their partner Christus Trinity Mother Frances. Mosier is grateful for the community’s support. She hopes people donate to help families like Cruz’s.

To donate to CMN Hospitals, visit https://host.nxt.blackbaud.com/donor-form/.

WHAT: City of Tyler Tree Lighting Ceremony

WHY: 2025 Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Child will light the city’s tree

WHERE: Downtown Tyler square, 110 N. College Ave.

WHEN: After the Rose City Christmas Parade (which starts at 6 p.m.) Thursday night

ALSO: The 2025 Miracle Child will light Christus Mother Frances’ tree at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at 800 E. Dawson St. in Tyler