Max’s mum, Fleur, shares his incredible journey – from open heart surgery at age three to chasing his dream of competing at the Karate World Champs in Brazil.
Max was almost three years old when he was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Just a few months later, he underwent open heart surgery to remove an obstruction in his heart. It was an incredibly uncertain time – we didn’t know what Max’s future would look like.
We were told he couldn’t play sports or exert himself physically. He was at risk of sudden cardiac arrest, and we carried a defibrillator everywhere we went. Life changed overnight.
When Max was seven, he asked his cardiologist if he could try martial arts. He was so eager – and thankfully, they gave the green light. Max started Kenpo and absolutely loved it. He thrived, eventually earning his brown belt.
Along the way, he built not just physical strength, but also resilience, discipline, and determination. In 2023, Max had another surgery to have an ICD placed in his chest, which has given us much-needed peace of mind.
After a short break, Max returned to martial arts at age 13 – this time starting Karate from scratch. He began again with a yellow belt, and over the past two years has worked his way up to purple belt. He’s now aiming to earn his brown belt later this year.
Now 15, Max has an amazing opportunity ahead – he’s been invited to compete at the JKS Karate World Championship in Brazil in 2026! This is an incredible achievement and something we never imagined possible in those early, scary days.
We are beyond proud of him and deeply grateful for the support we’ve had over the years from Heart Kids, Starship, and our family and friends.
In those early years after Max’s diagnosis, I found so much hope in stories of older heart kids and adults living full, thriving lives. They gave me comfort and inspiration. I hope Max’s journey can now do the same for families with young children or babies navigating their own heart journeys.
Max is 15 – fit, strong, healthy, and living his best life. He doesn’t let his heart condition hold him back, and we couldn’t be prouder.
* Max and his whānau are working hard to raise the funds needed to get him to Brazil for the World Champs — an incredible opportunity. If you’d like to find out more or get in touch with Max’s family, feel free to reach out and we’ll happily connect you.
