01/20/2026
We have been screening Axil with Hirsche Smiles Foundation since 2019. But until this year his heart has not been healthy enough for surgery. This was his year! This was Dr Petersen’s first case of the day on the first surgical day of the trip. In the recovery area after taking Axil’s photo we showed him his own after photo. He could not comprehend that the image looking back at him was his own. I thought about what it will be like for this 7 year old boy to go back to school when he returns home. He is a whole new kid! What an amazing opportunity to introduce Axil to himself❤️