At just 13 years old, Abigail Wright, from Sparta, New Jersey, has already shown what it means to face adversity with courage, faith, and a smile. She is our fighter — and her story is one of strength, perseverance, and hope.

In December 2023, Abigail noticed something unusual — a small lump on her neck, just below her ear, that seemed to be getting bigger. She didn’t have any pain or redness, and her pediatrician initially believed it was an infection. But her mom, Allyson, who has a medical background, trusted her instincts and knew something wasn’t right. She asked for blood work and an ultrasound to be done, and when the ultrasound results came back, Allyson immediately made an appointment with a pediatric oncologist.

Things moved incredibly fast from there. They met with the oncologist on a Thursday, completed a CT scan the same day, and just a few days later — on Christmas week — Abigail was admitted for a biopsy. By Thursday, the family received the diagnosis: B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL). The very next day, Abigail began her first round of chemotherapy.

Everything happened so quickly that it was difficult for the family to process — overwhelming, heartbreaking, and yet, in many ways, a blessing that treatment began right away. Abigail’s frontline treatment was extremely difficult. Over the course of 14 months, she endured numerous complications, multiple hospital admissions, and even one stay in the ICU that left her family scared and emotionally drained. What was originally expected to be an 11-month treatment extended to 14 months due to the delays caused by these complications.

Earlier this year, Abigail finally transitioned to maintenance therapy, a phase that has allowed her to feel more like herself again. While she still experiences side effects — particularly feeling unwell for about a week after each IV infusion — her family is grateful that she is tolerating most of her current treatments well.

Throughout the ups and downs of this journey, Abigail has found comfort in art and creativity. She loves to color, make bracelets, and do crafts whenever she feels well enough. These small moments of expression have been a peaceful outlet for her — a way to cope, reflect, and stay positive during her toughest days. She’s had the love and support of her family every step of the way, especially from her two aunts and her brother, who have been her biggest cheerleaders.

When asked how she stays motivated, her family says it’s her inner strength and optimism that shines through. Abigail focuses on the good days, enjoys every moment she feels well, and keeps her eyes on the future — looking forward to getting back into sports and experiencing a happy, healthy high school life.

Her mom shared that this journey has been a true emotional rollercoaster — a test of patience and faith. “I was always a planner,” Allyson said, “but everything about this journey was unexpected. Timelines changed so often that we had to learn to just go with the flow and stay positive. Some things are out of our control — you just have to keep showing up and be there for your fighter.”

When Fightstrong Foundation learned about Abigail’s story, we wanted to make her day a little brighter and remind her how loved she is. We donated Nike Air Max sneakers, two pairs of Uggs, a Coach purse, Coach backpack, Coach wallet, earrings and a necklace set, and a full makeup kit — everything on her wish list and more.

We were so happy to hear that after a particularly tough day, Abigail came home to find a box waiting for her — filled with everything she had wished for. Her reaction was pure awe. She couldn’t believe all of it was sent to her, and both she and her mom Allyson shared their heartfelt gratitude with us over FaceTime. Seeing their smiles, laughter, and tears of joy was an unforgettable reminder of why we do what we do.

Abigail is an inspiration. She reminds all of us that even through fear, uncertainty, and pain, there can still be light, hope, and beauty. We love you, Abigail, and we are so proud of you for showing the world what it truly means to Fightstrong.