The diagnosis

Their unborn baby girl, Harper, was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Right Ventricle with Pulmonary Atresia meaning that both the pulmonary valve and right ventricle are underdeveloped disrupting the blood flow and therefore oxygen levels.

“Honestly, a lot of tears is really hard because you want the best for your kids,” Brittany said. “You just visualize your new family and what you’re going to look like and what you’re going to do and we knew immediately that things would be very, very different. And there was a lot of uncertainty a lot of hard.”

Choosing Dallas Children’s Hospital for Harper’s care, the Manning’s were able to fully comprehend what the diagnosis meant for them and their family with the help of Dr. Penn Laird, a pediatric heart specialist.

“They have programs there as well,” Ben said. “That we were able to meet with people and get a lot of information so to prepare for her birth and what it would look like and how, like what’s our role and everything.”

On March 18, 2019, Harper Manning was born weighing 6 pounds and 2 ounces.

Harper, however, had a long road ahead.