Darth Vader Advocates for Children's Health

This is part of our series reflecting on 20 years of Family Advocacy Day. Learn how the experience impacted our former child advocates.

Imagine a mini-Darth Vader walking up to you and asking if you want his autograph. 

Max dressed as Darth Vader during FAD.

That’s just what Max Page did at one of his many Family Advocacy Day (FAD) appearances. Max, who played tiny Darth Vader in a popular Super Bowl commercial, now uses his superpowers to advocate for pediatric health care.

Max was born with a congenital heart condition and had numerous surgeries at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). He underwent his first procedure at three months old and has since had more than 12.

His passion for advocacy was formed over six visits to Capitol Hill where he shared his story and established meaningful relationships with lawmakers.

He shared chicken tenders with senators in the dining room, joined Rep. Nancy Pelosi on the floor to bang the gavel, and pressed the voting button for Rep. Raul Ruiz. While Max had a six-week hospital stay, Sen. Adam Schiff spent an hour in his hospital room and brought him Stanford merchandise. 

“These little gestures made me feel heard and connected,” Max said. “It felt like they were interested and cared. They kept taking meetings that didn’t feel like they were just doing it because they had to. It authentically felt like I was a 10-year-old kid who had a relationship with these people at some level.”

Max shared a moment with Rep. Nancy Pelosi during FAD.

For Max, all of his trips to Washington D.C. as a child sparked an interest in law and politics. Fourteen years after being a viral force on television, he’s now a film student at Loyola Marymount University making his own documentary on the congenital heart community. 

He’s creating a dialogue for children and families who have similar experiences and inviting them to tell their stories — just as he did at FAD.

“As I grew up, I started to learn what it meant to be there, what we were fighting for, and it invoked a lot of meaning into my life,” Max said. “There’s a way to live where you’re actively looking to help people, make a difference, and share your story.”

After film school, Max will continue his dedication to advocacy in law school. Making a difference as a kid has led him to consider running for office one day.

Representing CHLA at CHA’s annual advocacy event also fostered a greater sense of community within the hospital. It wasn't just the Page family going, it was the CHLA family. Patients, families, and staff who knew of their attendance would cheer them on and ask about their experience. Max also said it is important for patients to learn that they have a voice.

“Patients, especially children who are going through this, are not often the people who get a chance to speak or know how to use their voice when they do,” he said. “We are the story; we are the living testament. If you have a voice, let’s use it.”

About Family Advocacy Day

The Children’s Hospital Association is celebrating its 20th year of hosting Family Advocacy Day. Each summer, patients and their loved ones meet with federal lawmakers in Washington D.C. Together with children’s hospitals, we elevate their voices and advocate on important pediatric health care issues.