Expand / Collapse search
☰
Red Flag Warning
from SUN 11:00 AM MST until SUN 8:00 PM MST, Southern Graham-Central and Eastern Cochise-Southern Greenlee-Lower Elevations of the San Carlos Apache Nation in Graham County, Pima-South Central Pinal-Tohono Oodham Nation, Eastern Pima-Southeastern Pinal-Santa Cruz-Western Cochise
6
Wind Advisory
until SUN 9:00 PM MDT, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Hwy 264, Black Mesa Area, Chinle Valley, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas Hwy 264 Northward
Wind Advisory
from MON 9:00 AM MDT until MON 9:00 PM MDT, Black Mesa Area, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Hwy 264, Northeast Plateaus and Mesas Hwy 264 Northward
Wind Advisory
until SUN 8:00 PM MST, White Mountains, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County, Eastern Mogollon Rim, Western Mogollon Rim, Yavapai County Mountains, Grand Canyon Country, Kaibab Plateau, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County, Coconino Plateau, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County
Wind Advisory
from MON 8:00 AM MST until MON 8:00 PM MST, Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County, Western Mogollon Rim, Eastern Mogollon Rim, Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County, Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County, White Mountains
Wind Advisory
from SUN 11:00 AM MST until SUN 7:00 PM MST, Northwest Plateau, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Northwest Deserts

Southwest passengers celebrate 2-year-old who beat cancer: 'We're so very proud of you'

By
Published  April 12, 2026 8:48am MST
Heartwarming News
FOX Local
Passengers celebrate 2-year-old's cancer-free status

Passengers celebrate 2-year-old's cancer-free status

Southwest flight attendants made a very special announcement on a recent flight between California and New York: 2-year-old Cruz, who'd been battling a rare form of cancer, is now cancer-free. The toddler went home with a pile of napkins filled with words of encouragement from his fellow passengers. 

The Brief

    • Passengers on a recent Southwest flight helped to celebrate a "young hero" being cancer-free.
    • Cruz, who was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma about a year ago, had been traveling back and forth from San Diego to New York for his treatments.
    • He walked off his last flight with piles of encouragement from strangers who were "so very proud" of him.

A 2-year-old who’s been traveling across the country to be treated for a rare form of cancer was greeted with a heartwarming surprise on his last flight home after beating the disease. 

On a recent Southwest flight from New York to California, one of the flight attendants made a pre-flight announcement about a very special passenger on board: a" young hero" named Cruz. 

Cruz is cancer-free

The backstory:

Cruz was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma about a year ago. Since then, he and his parents have been traveling back and forth from San Diego to New York for his treatments. 

RELATED: ‘It honestly felt surreal’: Boy who was born deaf talks to Disneyland character in sign language

What they're saying:

"Today we do have a very special passenger on board," the flight attendant said before the plane took off. "We have a young hero named Cruz, who is 2 years old. He has been battling a very rare form of cancer. 

"He is now officially cancer-free!" she continued. "We are so honored to be able to fly you home. We’re so very proud of you! You’re very strong and brave."

Cruz reacts to passengers clapping for him on a recent Southwest flight (Southwest Airlines)

To celebrate his cancer-free milestone, the Southwest flight attendant told passengers they’d be passing some napkins around for people to write words of encouragement to Cruz. 

RELATED: NASA 'looking into' reclassifying Pluto as a planet after 10-year-old's viral letter

The little boy left with a pile of positivity, thanks to the kindness of strangers on board. 

His mother told NBC News that Cruz felt the love. 

"He even said, ‘I’m strong. They’re talking about me—I’m strong,’" she said. 

The Source: This article includes information from Southwest Airlines and NBC News.

Heartwarming News