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Abby’s new American Girl Doll

Last month, when I found out my son has Alopecia Areata, I reached out to my friends at American Girl to see if they had images of the new wigless dolls that were not stock photos- images of little girls with no hair who were loving their dolls.  Not yet, they said, but would you like us to send you one?  Being the lover of American Girl, I of course said yes, and the doll now known as Abby arrived a few days later. I’ll explain her name in a few minutes.

American Girl knows that many girls have lost their hair to medical conditions or to medical treatments.  They know it, and they decided to broaden their doll line to include dolls without wigs, so that girls with little or no hair could also have a doll just like them.  Just like in real life- there’s nothing different about these dolls except they have no hair.  Same bodies, same loveableness, same sweet faces- just a soft, smooth head instead of a wig of hair.

Just like any little girl (or boy) who has no hair.  She’s not different, she’s just not got hair.

 

I think it’s pretty awesome of American Girl to work so hard to have a product line that encourages acceptance and inclusion.  (You’ll see more on the service dog and the wheelchair soon).

So after this doll arrived, I had a talk with my kids.  We came to the conclusion that perhaps this beautiful doll, no matter how much we love her, would maybe make a little girl’s day, or week, or month.  Maybe there is a little girl out there, who already did lose her hair, or doesn’t have any left already, and maybe having this particular doll would just be a wonderful thing for her.  A quick sendout on Facebook and my friend Andrea sent a message.  My friend’s daughter Abby would love this doll, she said.  She’s going through another round of chemo soon, and she’s lost her hair.

So we did what many would do.  We took the doll out, hugged her, kissed her, made some cards for little Abby, and filled that box with all of the love we could (in the form of paper hearts, and a prayer chain from paper)….and sent her on her way.

About a week later, I received this email from Abby’s mom.

Abby meets her Just Like Me (wigless) American Girl Doll

Brett,
I wanted to thank you for the American Girl doll that you sent Abby.  She was beyond excited when she opened it.  It arrived the day after her discharge from the hospital after five days of chemo, so it was a welcome distraction from all the chemo side effects.  She named herAbby because she looks just like her.  She kept rubbing her head and saying, “She has no hair, just like me.  Her head is so soft, just like me.  I have little eyebrows and my baby has little eyebrows.”  She kept rubbing her head and had to put her to sleep because she felt sick from chemo too.
 
I am so thankful that you were able to send her this doll.  We’d never have been able to afford one for her with all the costs of treatment and being off work.  It is definitely something that she can identify with.
And that’s how Abby got her American Girl doll, named Abby.  It’s also how my children learned important lessons about doing for others, and how amazing it can feel to know that you did something pretty special for no reason at all.
I hope that my friends at American Girl see this post, and see Abby’s face, and read her mom’s email sharing what Abby’s reaction to seeing her doll was.  Because  I think they should know that this doll, this one doll, has made a pretty huge impact on one family’s life.  I think companies should get the chance to see photos like this, that Abby’s mom was kind enough to share, so that American Girl and other companies like them can see what an impact their products and decisions have on us.  I’m so honored I could be part of it.
Update: Abby passed away in the middle of 2014.  I hope that her Abby doll is bringing her sister some comfort as she plays with and remembers her beloved sister.
If you or someone you know would like to order one of the wigless dolls from American Girl, you can visit the “doll hospital” on the site- or give them a call at the number listed below.

We’re delighted to provide a My American Girl® 18″ doll that’s just right for your girl. Each of our new dolls without hair is specially designed from a variety of doll faces, skin tones, and eye colors.

Plus, if you already own a My American Girl® doll, you can admit her to the Doll Hospital where our experts will be happy to replace her head to create a doll without hair.

For more details, call customer service at 800-628-5145to discuss options and to order a doll without hair.

 

I did receive Abby’s doll to facilitate my review.  Opinions are my own.

About Brett

I'm a 40 something lifestyle blogger living in Connecticut with my husband and our 3 kids, plus our two rescue pups. We love to hike, travel, play games, watch movies, and just be outside together! Having 3 active kids makes for a hectic schedule and I try to share content, recipes and other things that can help to make today's busy family life simpler, easier, or just plain more fun!

I started working full time at a local middle school in fall 2021 and some of my students are insistent that I am mean.

Comments

  1. kelly says

    oh wow tears* so so sweet of you, what a blessing for that little girl and what a wonderful thing to show to your kids. Just beautiful the acts of kindness

  2. Kathleen says

    Hands down, this IS the best post I have ever read!! I have goosebumps and tears, but they are from JOY! It is a BEAUTIFUL thing that you and your children did for Abby! I think you are a GREAT Mom who teaches her children wonderful life lessons about compassion. It’s nice to know there are still parents out there raising their kids right! =)

  3. Amy Ledesma says

    Thanks for following me .When I came over and read this story It was so beautiful .I love how you filled up the box with love.Sick kids need little surprises to get through the day .This was a big beautiful surprise for Abby.

  6. Maddie K. says

    What a wonderful thing American girl and you did for Abby. I got teary eyed reading your post.

  7. Carol Trautwein says

    I remember a movie I saw ,it was about this little sick girl who wanted an angel doll for Xmas. Her brother looked all over the place,but no one made one. An old lady agree to make one,but the little girl died before she could get her present. Her brother grew up, and every year angel dolls are given out at a cancer hospital! I cried seeing this movie. I cried after I read your story. Mankind is not so bad, not with angels like your & your family & American Girls Dolls to help make sick children happy for one moment of their little life. Thank You!!

    • queenb says

      What a sweet movie that must have been. I’d probably sob through the whole thing….

      We have to share good stories too- thank you for your kind words, Carol <3

  8. Susan Jaisle says

    This is just amazing! My daughter has a friend with Cancer. I just think this is such an awesome way to lift up kids without hair and let them know it’s OK and even dolls can have no hair!

  9. Donna Rollings says

    I am so glad I came across this to read.I am glad to see that American Girl is doing this. I almost cried seeing that precious little girl. It breaks my heart to see a child or animal go through things they don’t understand and deffintly don’t deserve. Thank you for doing that for her, that was wonderful of you.

  10. Angie says

    This is the best post ever it brought tears to my eyes and in some way I feel like I’ll never ever forget Abby she has a beautiful soul and I hope she lives a nice long life. I send all my love and prayers her way(: (;

  11. Bekah Kuczenski says

    Abby is such a beautiful little girl! What a heart breaking story 🙁 I am so glad that a company like American Girl recognizes what poor kids like Abby are going through and gives them something to smile about!

  13. Teresa Foskey says

    Oh the tears are flowing. What an AMAZING company and family you have. I wish they had these growing up when my sister was going through her cancer battle. I will keep Abby in my prayers as well as her family.

  16. Charlotte says

    Truly amazing Brett!! I always liked American Girl, but I now have a better appreciation for them! It’s amazing how one doll can make such a huge impact in one child’s life! And how you’ve taken an event that’s happened in your own child’s life and taught them the meaning of exceptance of other children!

  18. Mimi says

    What a beautiful story and a blessing this American Doll was to little Abby. Those photos were SO sweet. Hard not to cry! Thank you for sharing. With my girls being older now, I haven’t kept up on all the dolls. Thankful they have these dolls for little girls with no hair!

  19. karon says

    this is so sweet. I am a pediatric nurse so I am happy to see dolls my patients can identify with. I am happy Abby has a new friend!

  20. Danielle says

    What an amazing story and such a fantastic idea. I had no idea they did this. This story made me cry, I’m so glad Abby got a doll ‘just like her’.

  21. Sabrina Radke says

    These are absolutely WONDERFUL. My niece had ALL and I would have loved to get her one when she lost her hair, brilliant!

  23. Kay M. says

    Brett, I have always loved American Girl Dolls, and what you and your children have done is amazing. Hopefully your post will inspire more companies to be as gracious as American Girl Dolls. You know, you are an angel for Abby!

  24. Dana says

    This was absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing this story – amazing of American Girl to do this…
    we will include sweet Abby in our prayers as well.

  25. Heather S says

    How amazing and touching that it made such a difference in Abby’s life. I love that American Girl is making them now!

  26. Liz says

    I think that is the best idea! And I love that the heads can be replaced with one with hair or without hair at the doll hospital later. 🙂 What a sweet and wonderful thing for Abby!

  27. Leandrea says

    This brought tears to my eyes. Way to go American Girl and way to go Bargains family! So happy that you made a difference in Abby’s life. She sure is a cutie! xoxo

  28. Melanie says

    Please have This sweet girls body PH Checked. a high percentage of people with cancer have low body PH which is linked to cancer. Anything below 7.2 can develop cancer. Cancer cannot live in an alkaline environment. Get her PH to 8.0 and rid this sweetheart of cancer. Google the baking soda cure. This is mostly talking about alkalizing the body.

  29. Amy Reilly says

    I think this is great! They also now feature the dolls with hearing aids! I have three children who are deaf/hoh so this was pretty awesome to us!

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