Harper Hill shines at WIRED Together camp
Just a few years ago, Harper Hill didn’t want to hear about her heart, and she definitely didn’t want to talk about it. Born with heterotaxy syndrome, including a single-ventricle heart and other heart defects, Harper felt that her heart made her different from other children. She would shy away whenever the topic came up.
Now, however, 11-year-old Harper isn’t afraid to share her heart with others. Jenna Hill, Harper’s mother, says that everything changed when the family was introduced to Children’s Harbor through an invitation to attend WIRED Together retreat at Lake Martin. WIRED Together focuses on young people whose lives are affected by heart disease and provides them and their families with encouragement, education, and opportunities for summer fun.
Harper and her family, which also includes her dad, Matt, and her siblings, Carim, Mollie Baker, and Haddon, took their third trip to Lake Martin from their home in Corner, Alabama, this year. In that time, the Hills have made lasting memories together “while also watching Harper grow in her own story,” Jenna says. “Through this camp, she became more comfortable in her own skin as she met others with similar stories. And in turn, we as parents learned from her vulnerability and growth.”
Each year Harper looks forward to connecting with friends, staying up late to play card games, boating on the lake, and other typical camp activities. She also enjoys some unique WIRED Together experiences, including dissecting pig hearts to learn more about the inner workings of the human heart. Jenna says the family plans its entire summer schedule around the retreat.
WIRED Together “is our favorite weekend of the year,” Jenna says. “The experience is unmatched. In a world where it’s easy to feel like no one else has walked in your shoes, you find yourself surrounded by multiple families who fully understand.”
