Kids with chronic illnesses often have a difficult time connecting with other kids socially. The restrictions of being in a hospital or having physical limitations make interaction with others challenging.
One of the patients we heard about was Jake. “I haven’t had the most typical of childhoods. From the time I was 8, I have spent the majority of my days either at the hospital, a doctor’s waiting room, or at home. Because of this, it has been difficult to build and maintain friendships as well as commit to joining clubs and activities. Opportunities to meet people my own age have been really, really hard.”
Games For Love partners with hospitals within the Children’s Miracle Network, including several in New York, Pennsylvania and Canada where Jake was being treated.
He was kind enough to share his story. “I started playing Minecraft right before I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at the end of grade 3, but was never really big into it or other games until I was hospitalized. I quickly learned that Minecraft wasn’t just a solitary building game; it was a way of interacting with others and having something in common with them. I could walk into the patient playroom and quickly make friends just by talking all things Minecraft.
And Minecraft wasn’t the only game that brought us together. There were many nights when we would have very competitive Mario Kart races with everyone in the room watching and cheering the players on. Super Smash Brothers became a way of releasing our frustration with our illness and the treatments by pretending that the characters we were battling was some aspect of the illness. Even traditional board games helped to bring us patients together. Video games helped to give us a chance to just be normal kids.”
That idea — helping kids “just be kids” — is at the heart of what Games For Love stands for. Our founder, Nathan Blair, often reminds us that play therapy helps normalize a child’s experience in the hospital, easing fear and anxiety while bringing laughter and connection back into their lives.
But gaming didn’t just help Jake inside the hospital — it opened doors beyond it.
“I love Pokemon, so when the game Pokemon Go came out, I was naturally super excited. But even better than just playing the game on my own to collect all the Pokemon in the wild, the game now features something called Raid battles, where players get together to battle a Pokemon in a huge group in hopes of getting a chance to catch that Pokemon. I’ve been able to get out to some of these Raid battles over the summer and it’s been awesome. I’ve been able to meet so many other people and form friendships with a lot of them. They make me feel accepted and even go out of their way to help me. They offer to push my wheelchair for me and wait for me to arrive at the Raid battles so that I can be included too. Gaming has not only brought people into my life who I never would have otherwise met, it has also increased my support network.”
A support group of friends is critical for the mental health of kids like Jake. Finding people who share your interests and make you feel understood can make all the difference.
As Jake told us, “Playing video games has helped me to better cope with my illness. It’s something I can do no matter how I am feeling. It’s a valuable tool on the healing journey that I think is often overlooked. For me, it’s been absolutely irreplaceable.”
Jake’s story is a beautiful reminder of why Games For Love exists — to bring connection, comfort, and joy to kids facing some of life’s toughest challenges. Through play, they find more than entertainment; they find friendship, strength, and hope.
Join the Mission
At Games For Love, we believe every child deserves a chance to laugh, play, and heal—even in the toughest moments. When you give, you’re not just funding technology or video games—you’re giving kids a lifeline of hope, joy, and connection.
✨ You can be the reason a child smiles today.
