Meet Kajus, an inspirational 11-year-old boy from County Meath.
“Kajus has always been a really happy, funny and charming child,” says his mum, Evelina. “He loves being outdoors, seeing animals, and also playing with Lego and gaming.”
When Kajus was just three years old, his teachers began to notice that something wasn’t quite right. While the other children ran and jumped around the playground, Kajus struggled to keep up.
After years of hospital appointments, scans and tests at Children’s Health Ireland at Crumlin, Kajus was diagnosed at the age of five with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive muscular condition that would gradually affect his mobility.
“It has been a long journey,” says Evelina. “Kajus is undergoing therapies almost every day, with hospital monitoring, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and medications.”
As the condition progressed, everyday movement became increasingly difficult. Over the past year, Kajus lost the ability to walk and is now a full-time wheelchair user.
But while Duchenne has changed many things in Kajus’ life, it has never changed who he is.
“He still loves to try new things and seek new adventures,” says Evelina. “The decision we made early on was that Duchenne wasn’t going to be the only thing that defined Kajus’ childhood.”
One of Kajus’ greatest passions is gaming.
“I love gaming more than anything because I get to do fun things and make friends,” he says.
For Kajus, gaming offers so much more than entertainment. It provides a space where he can connect with others, explore new worlds and simply enjoy being a child.
“Despite his limitations, Kajus can still game like any other child,” says Evelina. “One important thing for me to remember is that Kajus is growing up now. We can’t always be looking to the future, and we can’t put his childhood on hold.”
When Make-A-Wish Ireland volunteer Gerry arrived to grant Kajus’ wish, he brought with him a custom-built gaming PC, complete with a water-cooling system and striking green LED lighting.
The impact of the wish was about far more than the computer itself.
“So much of Kajus’ life revolves around his needs,” says Evelina. “Through the wish application process, we were able to rediscover that there is a whole world outside of that too, a world we could give to Kajus and help him experience his childhood again.”
For a family navigating appointments, therapies and the realities of a progressive condition, the wish created something precious: a chance to focus on joy.
“For once it wasn’t about Duchenne. It wasn’t treatments or medications. It was giving Kajus back a piece of childhood. Anyone who knows Kajus would know this was the perfect wish for him.”
What makes the wish especially meaningful is the independence it brings.
“It’s very hard for a child with Duchenne to feel independent, and this is what makes Kajus’ wish so special,” says Evelina. “Gaming is something he can enjoy independently. He can still play with his friends, be included and simply be an 11-year-old boy.”
And for Kajus, that’s exactly what every child deserves: the freedom to have fun, make memories, and enjoy being a kid.
