Hi, this is Jen, I am Landon’s Aunt and Godmother. I wanted to share this memory. It depicts perfectly how events we experienced on our journey with Landon have guided the trajectory of the work we are doing today through the Landon Vargas Foundation.

“Mindful Shifts and Magical Memories- MY Gaming Story”

Landon was a patient at Nemours Children’s Hospital.  At the time, he was receiving chemotherapy with such high toxicity that he had to be monitored incessantly for the duration of doses.  That equated to rounds of long hospital stays.

I found myself pacing in his room one afternoon.  Landon was nauseous, fatigued, lethargic, and depleted. I had tried to engage him with some of the activities he typically enjoyed. “Uno?” “Don’t Break the Ice? ” (this was the forerunner in the game department at that time. ). “Scratch Art?”.  To each suggestion, he shook his head sadly…  Until one of the child life specialists entered the room pushing a game cart.  ( At that time there was only one mobile gaming cart for all of the oncology floor.)

The specialist said, ” Landon, this came back, would you like to play?”

I watched this listless boy instantly perk up.  He sat up, crawled to the edge of the bed where he reached over and grabbed two controllers.  He extended one to me.  Immediately, a bit of panic flushed over me. Now,  I am one of the most untechy,  un-gamey people currently walking the planet.  My childhood memory of never being able to pass the first screen of Pacman, EVER, found this most inopportune moment to inundate my psyche… but I was not about to tell this little boy no!  I reluctantly took the controller as he spasmodically breezed through a couple of set-up screens.

“Soooo…..what do I do?” I asked nonchalantly while examining the controller.  “Push A to ____ and Push B to _____, ” he speedily stated and I didn’t quite catch it…

” Ok, wait… where are A and B?” I asked as I tried to hide my fit of panic.

I looked up to meet a side glance that unspokenly spoke- ARE YOU FOR REAL?  I swiftly looked back and searched my controller again.  Ahh, I located them. Relieved, I took a breath…then the game started. I tried. I died. I tried more. I died multiple times in a few minutes, possible a few seconds.  I failed at moving my guy along smoothly.  I was unsuccessful at finding the secret door I was instructed to divert to.  I jumped early, or too late.  All the while, Landon controlled everything so perfectly.  He was so precise, so purposeful, and all with such ease. After a while, Landon let out a big sigh and instructed me to stay right there.

I watched his player run to mine and bump me. Suddenly, I was glowing a bit and had a circle around me. Something took over me.  The music sped up, colored lights were flashing and I noticed we were getting points.

” I am doing so great Land!” I yelled excitedly….To which he replied, ” Aunt Jen, I put you in a bubble.”

He put me in a bubble, so I could be safe.  He put a bubble around me then he ran around like a maniac ninja doing everything.  I told everyone later that day how great I had done. Landon just shook his head, flashed that radiant smile of his and laughed blurting out how TERRIBLE I was.  Everyone was smiling and laughing. Needless to say, I was never asked to play video games again.

Today, when I am in a place where I am struggling, overwhelmed or discouraged you just might catch me uttering my plea to the Heavens…” Landon, can you put me in a bubble and just carry me?”

I share this personal story so that people can understand just how impactful Gaming Therapy can be for patients and why we are so passionate about creating more opportunities fo Gaming in pediatric oncology settings.  It is not just a video game.  It is a true means of therapy.  Not only was Landon’s mood, mindset, and pain tolerance lifted by games, he was additionally provided an opportunity for normalcy and connection. It also created a space for us to have a positive experience and create a meaningful memory in one of the most horrific of situations.

We have had a team working behind the scenes on our gaming therapy program and we are so excited to share the work we have been doing with you in the upcoming weeks.  We know this program will have Landon’s biggest stamp of approval and we look forward to seeing the positive moments we can spread.

Thank you if you have stayed to read this lengthy post and stay tuned for what’s next!!