Meet Kearyn

12-year-old Kearyn’s favourite thing in the world is playing Minecraft. He loves the game so much, he wants to be able to design his own games when he’s older, according to his mum Jodi.  

When he’s not playing Minecraft, Kearyn loves spending time with his service dog and watching Sonic the Hedgehog videos. 

Kearyn lives with several health conditions, including neurofibromatosis, glaucoma, and optic pathway glioma. Over the years, Kearyn’s eyesight has been severely impacted by his conditions, and he’ll eventually lose the ability to see completely.  

“There aren’t any options available to us anymore to save Kearyn’s eyesight, so doctors are just trying to prolong it for as long as they can,” Jodi explains.  

Why Kearyn chose the wish

“He really has been through so much,” says Jodi. “We got in touch with Rays of Sunshine when we did so that he could have his wish while he still has enough of his eyesight to enjoy it as much as possible.” 

Kearyn’s visual impairment meant he was really struggling to play his beloved Minecraft using a typical television or computer screen. For his wish, he asked for a new iPad, so that he could play the game easier.  

The wish

“We were over the moon when Rays of Sunshine told us his wish had been granted,” recalls Jodi, explaining that they decided to surprise him with his wish.  

“Seeing him realise his wish had been granted and that he had a brand new iPad to open was priceless – it’s a moment we’ll remember forever,” she adds. Kearyn beamed while opening his Rays of Sunshine package, which was also filled with other extra goodies to make him feel special. 

Of course, Kearyn’s first question was: “Is it fully charged?!”  

The impact of the wish

Jodi says Kearyn’s iPad has been a game-changer for him.  

“He’s told everyone at his blind school that he got to have a special Rays of Sunshine wish, and he’s been so much happier in his everyday life,” says his mum.  

As well as using the iPad to play games, Kearyn’s family also plan on teaching him how to use the in-built Siri voice assistant with verbal commands to help him navigate life more easily.  

“We’re really excited about the idea of Kearyn being able to use the iPad for a room scanner app, which will talk to him and help him move around without hurting himself when his eyesight deteriorates even further.    

“It was more than just a new piece of tech for him, it’s a lifeline,” Jodi explains.