Axel is a wee three-year-old boy with an unquenchable zest for life! He loves to play hockey in the yard, ride a bike with his cousin Henri and share giggles with his little sister Lara. But behind those sparkling eyes and mischievous grin is the story of a brave young warrior.

In Spring 2024, what appeared to be a simple virus turned into a race against time, complete with stubborn fever, aches and pains, and endless medical exams. Finally, Axel was rushed to emergency and hospitalized. The verdict: Kawasaki syndrome, which affects some 15 out of 100,000 preschool-age children in Quebec. It is a rare and serious condition that causes inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body and in the heart.

Thanks to the CHU Sainte-Justine medical team and intensive treatments, Axel was starting to recover nicely until a sudden and unexpected relapse struck – in spite of the slim odds! This time, the symptoms were worse; the child developed a heart aneurysm. His little body had to fight the disease twice as hard to deal with the pain, extreme fatigue and lengthy hospital stays.

Today, though, owing to effective medications and the constant care of his parents Myriam and Julien, Axel is back to living his little boy life to the fullest. And, like a battery, he’s still powering up (surely also due to eating all his carrots). He’s back at daycare, is learning how to skate and swim, and dreams of playing soccer and travelling to Mexico. Above all, he sings! His song, an ode to resilience, is about how he beat his disease. He says he feels as strong as Hulk, his favourite superhero.