As one of 22 siblings — many still under the care of mom Lavinia Evaristo and dad Kevin Borja — sometimes it’s easy for the already-quiet Aiden Borja to get drowned out by his siblings.
That was certainly not the case on Friday, as the 7-year-old Aiden Borja was the center of attention all morning. He was this month’s recipient of the Make-A-Wish Guam program.
And although not all 21 siblings live at his home, Aiden Borja shares all that he has as naturally as he breathes. When the Make-A-Wish program granted his wish for a shopping spree, he could not focus on himself.
He didn’t get a special seat in the limousine that took his 11 siblings and parents to four different stores.
His first purchase was a bunk bed at Town House Furniture, which he said he’d share with either mom and dad, or his brother Calvin, 12.
He’ll definitely share the dresser drawer purchased at Kwong Hwa with another one or two siblings, and the breeze generated from the four oscillating fans also purchased might be able to cool everybody in the family at some point.
“He’s not a stingy kid,” said his mom Lavinia Evaristo. “Even if what he’s left with is very small, he will always share.”
On the back of Aiden’s head is a scar, about four inches long and thick as rope. It’s a constant reminder of the medulloblastoma cancer he had resulting in doctors removing a golf-ball-sized tumor from his brain. Aiden also suffers from posterior fossa syndrome and as an added bonus, the 7-year-old is undergoing puberty as a byproduct of his treatment, said Evaristo.
On Friday, Aiden Borja was decked out in jeans, a blue shirt, a blue Make-A-Wish hoodie and a Make-A-Wish hat.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, is assisted by his mother, Lavinia Evaristo, and other family members as he shops through the aisles at the Kwong Hwa Department Store in Maite on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, is assisted by his mother, Lavinia Evaristo, and other family members as he shops through the aisles at the Kwong Hwa Department Store in Maite on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, gets a handshake from Buzz Shiroma, Townhouse Furniture and Appliance general manager, after his selection of a wooden bunkbed at the Maite business on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, is assisted by his parents, Kevin Borja and Lavinia Evaristo, as he steps off from a wooden bunkbed he selected for purchase at the Townhouse Furniture and Appliance store in Maite on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, center, wearing a blue hoodie and cap, gathers with family members after selecting a wooden bunkbed at the Townhouse Furniture and Appliance store in Maite on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, is assisted by his mother, Lavinia Evaristo, and other family members as he shops through the aisles at the Kwong Hwa Department Store in Maite on June 28, 2024.
A stretch limousine arrives to the Agana Shopping Center with Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja and his family members as part of 7-year-old’s shopping spree journey on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, strolls through the clothing aisles of the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña during a shopping spree with his family members on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, strolls through the clothing aisles of the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña during a shopping spree with his family members on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, weighs his options on which water guns to select during a shopping spree with family members at the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña on June 28, 2024. Borja was granted a $3,600 shopping spree which he decided to maximize during his visits to the Townhouse Furniture and Appliance store, Kwong Hwa and Ross. He then wrapped up his day of shopping by having lunch with his family at his favorite restaurant, McDonald’s.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, strolls through the clothing aisles of the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña during a shopping spree with his family members on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, gathers pairs of shoes for himself and siblings during a shopping spree visit at the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, strolls through the clothing aisles of the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña during a shopping spree with his family members on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, considers selecting a toy for a family pet chihuahua during a shopping spree visit at the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish Guam and CNMI President/CEO Eric Tydingco, left, and Program Services Manager Kaleena Camacho assists Aiden Borja, 7, wearing a blue hoodie and cap, as he shops with family members at the Townhouse Furniture and Appliance store in Maite on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, is assisted by his mother, Lavinia Evaristo, and other family members as he shops through the aisles at the Kwong Hwa Department Store in Maite on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, is assisted by his mother, Lavinia Evaristo, and other family members as he shops through the aisles at the Kwong Hwa Department Store in Maite on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, gets a handshake from Buzz Shiroma, Townhouse Furniture and Appliance general manager, after his selection of a wooden bunkbed at the Maite business on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, is assisted by his parents, Kevin Borja and Lavinia Evaristo, as he steps off from a wooden bunkbed he selected for purchase at the Townhouse Furniture and Appliance store in Maite on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, center, wearing a blue hoodie and cap, gathers with family members after selecting a wooden bunkbed at the Townhouse Furniture and Appliance store in Maite on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, is assisted by his mother, Lavinia Evaristo, and other family members as he shops through the aisles at the Kwong Hwa Department Store in Maite on June 28, 2024.
A stretch limousine arrives to the Agana Shopping Center with Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja and his family members as part of 7-year-old’s shopping spree journey on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, strolls through the clothing aisles of the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña during a shopping spree with his family members on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, strolls through the clothing aisles of the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña during a shopping spree with his family members on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, weighs his options on which water guns to select during a shopping spree with family members at the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña on June 28, 2024. Borja was granted a $3,600 shopping spree which he decided to maximize during his visits to the Townhouse Furniture and Appliance store, Kwong Hwa and Ross. He then wrapped up his day of shopping by having lunch with his family at his favorite restaurant, McDonald’s.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, strolls through the clothing aisles of the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña during a shopping spree with his family members on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, gathers pairs of shoes for himself and siblings during a shopping spree visit at the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, strolls through the clothing aisles of the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña during a shopping spree with his family members on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish recipient Aiden Borja, 7, considers selecting a toy for a family pet chihuahua during a shopping spree visit at the Ross Dress for Less store in Hagåtña on June 28, 2024.
Make-A-Wish Guam and CNMI President/CEO Eric Tydingco, left, and Program Services Manager Kaleena Camacho assists Aiden Borja, 7, wearing a blue hoodie and cap, as he shops with family members at the Townhouse Furniture and Appliance store in Maite on June 28, 2024.
Foundation president Eric Tydingco said that often, wish requests are travel-related, so there is little publicity when a recipient, for instance, asks to see a professional basketball game.
When the foundation is able to grant a wish locally, Tydingco said he enjoys giving others, and private businesses too, the opportunity to be a part of a wish-granting.
Aiden Borja used his opportunity to do what he always does. Share.
Admittedly, while shopping for linens at Ross, he did indulge in the purchase of a thick gold chain, one that contrasted nicely against the gunmetal gray chains he wore on his wrist and neck.
And when they went to McDonald’s, Aiden didn’t have to share any of his hamburger Happy Meal. Everyone was able to get their own.
But if you had asked Aiden Borja for just one of his french fries — chances are he’d give you two.
Pacific Daily News reporter Jojo Santo Tomas covers all interesting topics, including sports. Email him at jsantotoma@guampdn.com.
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