Seven-Year-Old Star Of The Force To Have Open Heart Surgery

May The Force be strong with brave little Max Page. The seven-year-old star of Volkswagen's record-breaking commercial The Force is to undergo surgery today to fix a congenital heart defect.

According to a letter written by his mother Jennifer and released By Deutsch LA - the agency behind the 2011 Super Bowl spot - surgeons in LA will this afternoon try to replace his pulmonary valve and fix a hole in his heart.

Little Vader, as he is also known, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect when he was just a few months old and now uses a pacemaker.

Since his rise to online fame last year, Max has been working as an ambassador for the Children's Hospital, in Los Angeles, to help raise funds for children with similar heart problems.

If you would like to donate to the hospital, click here.

His mother's heartbreaking letter is after the jump.

From Max's mother Jennifer:
"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!'"