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‘The Biggest Loser’ Alum Daniel Wright Dies at 30 After 2-Year Battle With Leukemia
Gone too soon. The Biggest Loser alum Daniel Wright died on Sunday, May 26, at just 30 years old after battling leukemia.
Shortly after the news broke, several former contestants from the NBC show wrote sweet messages about the season 7 and 8 fan favorite.
“I am so heartbroken to hear about Daniel Wright this morning. He has fought SO HARD during his battle with cancer and more,” Courtney Crozier Respess of season 11 wrote on Facebook on May 26. “This man is one of the kindest people I have ever met and is a true difference maker in this world! His faith has never faded, even in the darkest of times. I am honored to have known him!!!”
She added, “Please keep him and his beautiful, amazing and beyond strong wife, Rebecca Wright, in your prayers today as he is being called to heaven. Rebecca will need all of us to lift her up now and for the months and years to come.”
Season 8 winner Danny Cahill had nothing but kind words to say about his friend and shared a story from their time together on Facebook. “Daniel Wright and I met for the first time in May 2009 on the beach in Malibu. 15 of us went to the beach that morning to begin our journey on season 8 of The Biggest Loser,” he wrote on Facebook. “Our 16th contestant was driven up to the starting position of that first 1-mile race (which he won) and out popped Daniel. ‘Hey guys!!!’ He yelled as he jogged over to us. Little did I know the effect this man would have on my life.”
He continued, “Daniel’s light has always been one of Grace, encouragement, wisdom, love and honor throughout the time I have known him. And I can honestly say that because of him, I am a better man. He showed me (by example — not by telling me) how to care for others in a different way, and I thank God for being able to know this man for the 10 years I have known him. We could all learn a lesson from him — how important it is to leave a mark of love on those we meet, to lay down differences and to see similarities and to serve those around us in any way we can. I love you, Daniel, I love you, Rebecca, and I pray for your peace in this time of loss.”
In October 2017, Daniel went to the ER “with symptoms of extreme fatigue, barely being able to walk and severe headaches,” his GoFundMe page read. “Within 24 hours of his admission, our family heard the spectrum of diagnoses that transpired from just ‘extreme anemia’ to the final words that changed our lives forever: ‘leukemia.’”
Unfortunately, Daniel relapsed in December 2018 where he spent nearly four weeks dealing with “fevers, infections, low blood counts, chemotherapy side effects and attempts with immunotherapy treatments.”
His wife, Rebecca Wright, would frequently give updates as to how her husband was doing via her Facebook page. On May 24 — just two days before his untimely death — she explained that her husband had to get surgery after they noticed there was blood in his vomit. “Yesterday, the Lord broke me down and today because of your prayers and my pleading, our Lord has made me warrior strong!!” she wrote. “I will let you know when they will be doing the procedure as soon as I know. He is much more alert today but still quite foggy … Man alive this is insane and alone seems impossible but with GOD all things are possible. Thank you for your prayers and well wish, I adore you all!!!!”
We are thinking of Daniel’s family and friends during this tough time.
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