Max Page, the boy who played mini-Darth Vader in Volkwagen's much-acclaimed "The Force" commercial, is set to undergo open heart surgery on Thursday.
Deutsch LA told Business Insider, "Max was born with a congenital heart defect, and the surgery will replace his pulmonary valve and fix a hole in his heart."
Page's spot was one of the most talked-about ads of the 2011 Super Bowl. In it, he attempts to use the Force and is amazed that he is able to start his dad's Volkswagen.
Page, who is seven-years old, first learned of the operation on Sunday, according to an email from his mother. The young actor, who raises money for other children with heart conditions at Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, reportedly told his mother, "Mom, I don't have a choice. I have to go through it. I don't like it and it's still scary — but I have to. So I think I might as well go through it with a good attitude."
Below, read the full text of the email from Max's mom (via Business Insider).
We told Max and Els [Max's brother] Sunday afternoon. Initially, Max was crying and repeating how scared how he was. We unpeeled the layers by asking what exactly he was afraid of and tackled each issue as he could verbalize it. Blood draws, spending the night in the hospital and hurting are the big three. He was also very sad that summer would be in rest in recovery instead of playing baseball, golf and traveling. Around bedtime he asked if I would stay up with him and talk. He wanted to make a "CAN DO" list. So we wrote out all the things he can do so he could focus on those. Then he said we definitely had to "Fun Up" the house. So we went and got Els out of bed and spent the next hour redesigning each room with a theme, special rules and secret codes. In the Library (Els Room) we have to read with flashlights. On Whisper Lane (the hallway) you have to whisper. Going up the stairs you have to sing "Take me out to the ball game". The most favorite is the garage—Explode Zone—science experiments and art projects, the messier the better.
Last night, I wanted to make sure he was doing as well as he seemed. He said, "Mom I don't have a choice. I have to go through it. I don't like it and it's still scary—but I have to. So I think I might as well go through it with a good attitude." So as we hop on Max's coattails to go on this ride—we too, shall do it with a good attitude. Though we will still tremble with tears and have our overwhelming moments—we will focus on the "CAN DO" and enjoy our Fun Up House.
Mighty Max wants me to include one more thing—one of the lines he uses when he speaks to groups.
"Kids, if you use your FORCE and dream big, you can achieve anything. We may be small—but we're mighty!"
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