Feel Good Friday: Born with a heart condition, 11-year-old Harper Taylor now thrives on the volleyball court

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) – On the volleyball court, 11-year-old Harper Taylor describes herself in three words: “Hyper, competitive, funny.”

For her family, simply seeing that energy is something worth celebrating.

Harper was born with tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart condition that affects blood flow through the heart and to the lungs. Her mother, Casey Meador, said the family knew something was wrong shortly after Harper was born when she would spit up and her lips would turn blue.

After testing, Harper was transferred to Norton Children’s Hospital for specialized care.

“Very terrifying,” Meador said. “You’ve got this picture painted to go home with your family to be complete and … all those uncertainties are there of what is… what’s going to happen. Is my baby going to be okay?”

Harper eventually underwent open-heart surgery at 5 months old.

Dr. Lucinda Wright, a pediatric cardiologist with Norton Children’s Heart Institute and the University of Louisville School of Medicine, said tetralogy of Fallot does not correct itself and requires surgical repair.

Today, Harper continues to see her cardiology team for follow-up care, but her mother said she has no restrictions.

“My heart gets filled with happiness knowing that she has no restrictions,” Meador said. “When she was a baby, we never knew what the future would hold for her. So it just makes me happy that she’s able to do the activities like any other child could do.”

One of those activities has become a passion.

Harper has played volleyball since kindergarten and says being on the court gives her the chance “to be an athlete with my friends and get to have a good time.”

Her medical journey is not lost on her.

“I feel like it’s an opportunity that I get to do this,” Harper said. “Even though if I had these health problems and most people my age don’t have these problems … I still get to be at that level.”

For Wright, watching children like Harper grow up and thrive is one of the most rewarding parts of her job.

“It’s very rewarding to be able to see them thrive and enjoy life and live it to the fullest,” Wright said.

For Harper and her family, the journey is also rooted in faith.

“It’s a blessing to be here,” Harper said. “My parents, my family and all the prayers worked and God was in my… I was in God’s hands.”