A Life-Saving Transplant and an Extraordinary Wish
When Adeola “Abraham” Olagbegi learned his bone marrow transplant had succeeded, he was given the chance to choose any wish he wanted. Most kids might dream of a faraway trip or the latest gaming console, but 13-year-old Abraham chose something entirely different: he wished to feed homeless people in his hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, for an entire year.
A Battle With a Rare Disease
Abraham’s journey began in June 2020 when he was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening disorder in which the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells.
“I am a person of hope,” Abraham told CNN affiliate WLBT. “When you come against a big mountain, you have to remember you have a big God.”
Because the disease damages the bone marrow, a bone marrow transplant was his only path to survival.
“I had my transplant 10 months ago in November 2020, so I am doing good”, he said.
A Wish to Feed Others: The Birth of Abraham’s Table
Make-A-Wish Mississippi, which grants wishes to children ages 2–18 facing critical illnesses, turned Abraham’s dream into reality by creating Abraham’s Table, a service project that provides meals to the homeless every third Saturday of the month.
On those days, Abraham and a dedicated group of volunteers gather at Poindexter Park in Jackson, distributing meals to anyone in need. The initiative will continue for a full year with Make-A-Wish’s support.
A Tradition of Kindness
Acts of service were nothing new to Abraham. Before his diagnosis, he and his family regularly fed the homeless every month.
“It was always a good thing to do, and that’s what I grew up doing”, Abraham said. “So I go back to my roots to do what I was taught.”
The family had to pause their outreach during his treatment. But since launching Abraham’s Table in September, he has already fed hundreds of homeless neighbors.
Uniting a Community
“It’s such a beautiful example of how one kid has been able to unite an entire community,” Make-A-Wish spokesperson Jamie Sandys told CNN.
With local businesses donating food and volunteers stepping forward to help, Abraham’s wish has touched hundreds of lives.
Abraham’s mother, Miriam Olagbegi, says the experience has instilled lessons that will stay with her son forever.
“As parents, we can only hope to raise good, God-fearing, productive members of society,” she told CNN. “Sometimes we get things wrong, and sometimes we get things right; so it’s nice to see when things go right.”
Looking Ahead: A Mission With a Future
Abraham hopes this effort is just the beginning. He plans to transform Abraham’s Table into a permanent nonprofit organization that will continue feeding people for years to come.
From a life-threatening diagnosis to a wish that changed his community, Abraham’s story shows how compassion, especially from a child, can inspire an entire city.