By YASEMIN TALAT
EVERYDAY is a battle of survival for little Harper Warsow.
The five year-old Tarneit resident was born with congenially corrected transposition of the great arteries, which means the ventricles in her heart were on the opposite sides.
Since birth she has faced a number of complications to her health but with the support of her family has been battling through.
Not only does she have complications with her heart, but her fragile life is at risk due to an unknown condition affecting her neck and brain.
So for Harper her battle is a constant spiralling journey, one which her mother Wendy Warsow says is full of risks and worries.
“We have this constant fear every day, that if some kid slams into her or she has a football kicked to her head (at school) that could be it for her,” Ms Warsow said.
At four months old she underwent her first big heart surgery and at five months old a surgeon from France was flown in to operate a rare surgery on her heart again.
“She went into cardiac arrest and she had to go on to life support because she had a whole list of complications from the surgery,” Ms Warsow said.
“When she was a baby we went through the worst time of her life,” she said.
“We really thought we were going to lose her, doctors were telling us to turn off her life support.”
As a result from that surgery Harper now wears a special pace maker unit, which Ms Warsow says does all the beating of the heart for her.
“If it were to get damaged, she would go into cardiac arrest and then pass,” she said.
This year the preppie, who wears a brace for support, will undergo a complicated and high risk spinal surgery.
Close friends of the family and the community have rallied together to support the Warsow’s by organising a fundraising event ‘Ha Ha Ha for Harper’ which will be held in Point Cook this weekend.
All proceeds from the event will help the Warsow’s with care and medical costs for Harper, including the purchase of a much needed wheelchair.
“We are so honoured by it and we are so grateful for it because we can’t afford all the things that she needs,” Ms Warsow said.
Donations can be made in the form of raffle ticket purchase via the website www.trybooking.com/EDEL
