From a young age, Axel’s family had noticed the unusual appearance of his chest. They took him to see a few different providers, but they were told that his chest was not responsible for his symptoms, and it was only a cosmetic defect. It wasn’t until Axel needed a checkup and couldn’t get into his regular pediatrician that his mom searched for another pediatrician. At that appointment, Axel asked his mom once again to mention his chest, and although hesitant due to their past experiences, she brought it up. This pediatrician immediately noticed that something was wrong and referred them to Dr. Kellianne Kleeman, a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida.
Dr. Kleeman mapped out a detailed care plan that included a minimally invasive surgery to repair his pectus excavatum.
Axel says, “When Dr. Kleeman showed us the picture in clinic—that was the first time I saw my dad cry. Growing up, I couldn’t keep up with other kids, it was hard to breathe. I had to quit things I enjoyed—like baseball, which I loved. I thought it was my fault, and not that there was something wrong with me because I was always told I was okay, physically. I was also self-conscious about the way my chest looked, and always wore a T-shirt, even in the pool. Now, I feel comfortable and confident. The pain isn’t as bad as I thought it would be, and I was able to go home already after one day.”
Axel is excited to test his new limits. He can’t wait to see how long he can run and try everything he once believed he couldn’t do.
Axel’s mom leaves encouraging words for families going through a similar situation: “Listen to your kids, listen to them. Advocate for them, and don’t make the same mistake I made by waiting. It doesn’t hurt to get a second or third opinion. The doctors here, you see them care, their attention to detail, there’s not a single bad thing I can say about them. Everyone was amazing.”
