Skip to content

Luna Cruz and Rafael Cruz

Luna Cruz and Rafael Cruz were father and daughter from Luna’s birth in 2011 until Rafael’s death in 2022. Luna grew up with Rafael, Marisol, and Ezra in the family’s Hialeah household.

Overview

Rafael’s construction injury caused permanent disability and severe chronic pain. His opioid treatment and later substance dependence affected his availability within the household as Luna grew up.

Before the injury, Rafael was physically affectionate and playful with Luna. He carried her, held her on his lap, played guitar and sang to her, and danced with her in the kitchen. He called her ‘’Lunita’’ and ‘’la Lunita de Papi’‘. His warmth and animation softened around her, giving Luna early memories of a father who reached for her readily and made music part of ordinary family life.

Shared History

Rafael’s closest friend, Hector Burgos, died in a car accident after the injury, when Ezra was eight. Rafael became more withdrawn and melancholy afterward. Luna’s childhood therefore overlapped with the years in which his pain, grief, and substance use increasingly affected the family.

Even during the decline, Rafael sometimes spoke more plainly to Luna than he did to others about being tired or having a severe pain day. His gait became careful and guarded, his guitar came out less often, and the humming and laughter that had once announced his presence in the house grew infrequent.

Death and Aftermath

Rafael died from an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2022, when Luna was eleven. Luna and Marisol were not home when Ezra found him and called 911.

Luna grieved the permanent loss of her father while Marisol and Ezra were also in crisis. In therapy, she described missing Rafael, worrying about Marisol’s grief, and struggling with Ezra’s behavior after the death.

Relationships Family Relationships Luna Cruz Rafael Cruz Cruz Family