Mini-Darth Vader recovers from open heart surgery

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Max Page, the young boy who played Darth Vader in the famous Volkswagen superbowl commercial, is recovering from successful open heart surgery.

"We're very pleased with his progress and his outcome. I think everybody was calm and I think Max was more calm than his parents actually," said Dr. Vaughn Starnes.

His parents, Jennifer and Buck, said in a statement it was Max who offered them comfort and laughs heading into surgery.

Holding onto his stuffed animals and his brother's hand, his mom said he told everyone "it's ok, I'm not scared."

The seven-year old was born with a congenital heart defect that affects one in every thousand children born each year.

Doctors said the valve in Max's pulmonary artery was basically non-existent, slowing the blood flow from his heart to his lungs.

In surgery, doctors inserted a new pulmonary valve to help his heart function more normally and allow Max to be just like any other kid.

"Running and playing was becoming very difficult for him and as we know Max, he's a real competitor so he wanted to keep up with his friends," said Dr. Starnes.

Doctors expect Max to make a full recovery.