Zakiyah Crow will be one of the most recognized 9-year-olds in the Joplin metro area after being named Children’s Miracle Network at Freeman Health System’s 2026 Champion Monday morning.

Over the next 12 months, Zakiyah will be prominently featured at several CMN-sponsored public events, including the annual Tournament of Miracles Golf Scramble in June.

Each year, a local champion is selected to represent CMN, said Freeman Health System’s CMN Director Brandy Miller-Turner, “a child whose story represents the courage, resilience, and hope that defines our program.”

Zakiyah’s mother, Liz Crow of Galena, Kansas, said her daughter suffers from amblyopia, a condition wherein Zakiyah’s vision failed to develop properly during her early childhood.

“Zakiyah faced her first eye surgery at just a year old, a brave beginning to a journey that any little one should never have to endure,” Liz said.

Surgeons carefully probed both of Zakiyah’s tear ducts to clear a persistent clog, and for a short time, the procedure proved successful. However, the blockage returned, prompting the medical team to perform a second surgery, during which they placed a stent inside Zakiyah’s eye to keep the tear duct open.

“This additional intervention had its challenges and led to one of [Zakiyah’s] eyes growing weaker than the other,” Liz said. “While she still has a clogged tear duct, there has been notable improvement over time. Her medical team continues to monitor her condition, but it’s possible she may need another surgery in the future to ensure the health of her eyes.”

Children’s Miracle Network at Freeman Health System raises funds for local children and families, receiving assistance for those with medical needs, such as prescriptions, medical equipment, and specialty care. One hundred percent of these funds stay local, helping local children and their families in need.

“CMN has been a true blessing, helping us navigate the financial challenges of Zakiyah’s treatment,” Liz said. “Without their kindness—whether filling up my gas tank to ensure she gets to her specialty appointments in Kansas City or by providing other invaluable assistance—they are always there. I truly don’t know how we would manage without them.”

Zakiyah also received the opportunity to help reveal CMN’s new national logo, with a blue color replacing the red and the name simplified to “Children’s Miracle Network.” Overall, the new logo represents growth, strength, and a bold future for children and families under CMN’s care.

“Today represents more than just a logo change; today represents building a system of excellence,” said Alex Curran, Freeman Health System Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. “It represents the support our families at every stage of their journey need. I’m proud of the impact this program makes, and I’m grateful for the leadership and the community support that makes it possible.”

CMN’s partnership with Freeman Health System was established in 1987.

“For nearly four decades, this community has rallied behind one powerful belief: That children and families in our region deserve high-quality care and support close to home and access to additional resources when they need them most,” Miller-Turner said. “While logos evolve, our mission does not. The heart of CMN has always been and will always be about the children and families we serve.”