Sunshine Cruz Calls for Kindness Amid Her Battle with an Autoimmune Disease

This Women’s Month, Sunshine Cruz shared an important reminder to be kinder to others, especially those who may be fighting silent battles. She understands this deeply, having spent the past year dealing with an autoimmune disease.

Sunshine Cruz recently responded to a harsh online remark suggesting that her face no longer looked even and was “tumatabingi.” In a Facebook post, the actress urged the public to choose kindness as she spoke candidly about living with an autoimmune condition.

On March 16, she addressed the criticism about her appearance, writing: “You never truly know the battles people are fighting, whether it’s mental health or physical illness. I’ve been open about my journey with myasthenia gravis, and it’s the main reason I’ve stepped back from projects.”

According to Sunshine, health, family, and peace continue to be her top priorities. She concluded her statement by saying, “Let’s choose to be kind. It’s a much better look on everyone.”

Sunshine first opened up about her condition in March 2025, shortly after walking the runway at the Bench fashion show. She recalled the experience in a recent Instagram post, describing it as “such a memorable event,” especially since she had the opportunity to grace the runway in lingerie while in her “late 40s with three young adult kids.”

At the time, she shared that her condition was “at its peak.” She detailed how half of her face, including her eyes, had become droopy, while she also experienced muscle weakness and difficulty supporting her neck. “There was really nothing much I could do but continue training to build strength, stay professional, and prepare as much as I could,” she wrote. “Moments like that [don’t] always come, and I will always be grateful.”

The Mayo Clinic defines myasthenia gravis as “a condition that happens when communication between nerves and muscles breaks down.” As a result, the muscles become weak and tire easily. The muscle groups most commonly affected include those in the face, throat, arms, and legs.

Symptoms may include drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty speaking or eating, and trouble holding up one’s head. The condition is also more commonly diagnosed in females under 40 and in males over 60.

As an autoimmune disease, myasthenia gravis currently has no known way to be prevented or cured.