A Southwest Airlines crew touchingly honored a 2-year-old “hero” passenger with a heartwarming pre-flight announcement during his final journey home from New York after grueling cancer treatments.
The boy, only identified by the name Cruz, was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma last year, and he and his parents had been traveling on the airline back and forth from their home in San Diego, Calif., to New York for treatment for him, according to NBC News.
On Cruz’s final flight home after he was declared cancer-free in March, the attendants on the plane took a moment to address “a very special passenger on board.”
“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!” one of the flight attendants announced over the speakers, according to a video shared by Southwest.
Cruz looked between his parents as he slowly realized the praise was for him.
“We are so honored to be able to fly you home. We’re so very proud of you. You’re very strong and brave,” the attendant told the child.
Cruz’s parents told NBC News that “the emotions kind of all hit” when the cabin erupted in applause.
“[Cruz] felt recognized. He was excited,” his father said.
His mother added, “He even said, ‘I’m strong. They’re talking about me — I’m strong.’ ”
The crew also separately asked passengers to write “words of encouragement” for Cruz.
Dozens of travelers, all total strangers to Cruz, scrawled their congratulations on napkins, which were collected and gifted to the toddler.
“Congratulations on such a hard battle won! You must be incredibly brave & strong – your parents too. I wish you all the best & happiest things in life and the peace of healing!” one person wrote.
Others decorated their notes with cartoons of stick figures, shooting stars and Mickey Mouse.
Neuroblastoma is the most common cancer in children under the age of 5, according to the American Cancer Society. The cancer develops in the early nerve cells, or neuroblasts, in the sympathetic nervous system.
High-risk neuroblastoma cases have an estimated 50% five-year survival rate, according to the Mayo Clinic.
