Due to COVID-19 pandemic, people all over the world are in isolation and maintaining social distancing. During this time, video and online games have emerged out to become one of the best distractions & as a means of killing the time during the lockdown period. But for 2 young boys out there named Zac Carter and Carson Dimsdale, video games are more like a lifeline.
Before his 11th birthday, Zac was diagnosed with two separate cancers and was being taken to the recovery room after yet another surgery. He would play video games after such surgeries to distract himself. Zac owns a Nintendo Switch and would play it all day and would even decline any kind of anti-anxiety medication as it made him too groggy to play. He said, “It helps me take my mind off everything, it does distract me a lot.”
In a way, gaming introduced Zac to one of his best friends Carson. Zac was playing on his Nintendo at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis where eight-year-old Carson Dimsdale was wheeled in. The parents of these two boys met in a waiting room and soon the boys met and bonded over gaming.
In a video interview Carson said, “I feel like we’re brothers from two different families and the feeling is mutual.” In reply Zac mentioned that, “He’s really nice and I love playing games with him, and that he thinks of Carson as his little brother.” Zac’s mother would call Carson as her other son whereas Carson’s father terms both of them as the best buds.
Despite a gap of 2 years and the fact that they live across the country from one another, their friendship emerged and grew stronger because of the common love they shared for gaming. The boys surely have strength and determination in them as they battle cancer.
Zac’s mother recalled the story when the tumour in one of Zac’s leg showed up on his other leg as well and amputation was the only choice they had. She told how Zac reacted by saying that, “Atleast it’s not my arms, so I can still play my video games.” Coming to Carson, he was diagnosed with Acute Myleoid Leukemia in 2016 and has been fighting since then.
The joy of both these boys is sparked by gaming, and games like Animal Crossing, Minecraft, Roblox, Super Mario Maker, Smash Bros, Zelda, Fortnite and Pokemon being their most favourite games that they play together for up to a stretch of 6 hours or even more.
Source: Washingtonpost
