Little Harper, who started in first day of life in one of many surgeries, was born with hypoplastic left-heart syndrome, where the left chamber simply does not grow. 

During the gestation period Harper’s parents Rowena and Chris learnt of his condition and were given three options. 

In a previous interview, Mrs Harper said they were told they could terminate straightaway or go through with the pregnancy and do compassionate care, where you have the baby and let it go.

The third option was for Harper to have a series of operations over his youth to try to rectify the situation.

This offered a survival chance of 70 per cent and the couple jumped at the chance.

After four heart surgeries in his first four years of life, Harper was off to school with the rest of the kids his age this week.

And Harper’s dad Chris could not have been prouder. 

“It makes me, as a dad, so proud to see the wonderful job his Mum and I have done to get this beautiful kid ready for school like every other kid even after everything he has been through,” Mr Blewitt said. 

“It was a very good day.”

Mr Blewitt said it was massive for Harper to survive, let alone start school. 

“It still hasn’t really sunk in that he is off to school yet,” he said.

“We tried to treat it as normal as possible for him.

“He still doesn’t have 100 per cent oxygen so he will struggle with activities a little bit but he is still very active.

“He self regulates and will take a break if he needs to.

“I can’t see it being too much of an issue.”

Mr Blewitt said Harper came home from his first day at St Peter’s Anglican College and proceeded to be “teacher” to his younger brother Jenson. 

“Jenson was the student and put his lunchbox away and everything,” Mr Blewitt said. 

“His heart hasn’t held him back at all.

“He started school like any other kid.”

Day two of school on Thursday was just as exciting as the first. 

“He was so excited to get his uniform on,” Mr Blewitt said. 

“He has met friends and played in the sand-pit and sat with them.

“He was ready to go and learn about the world.”

Mr Blewitt said he was proud of his wife, Rowena, for “all she has done over the past five years”. 

“She keeps our family grounded, keeps our boys healthy and makes Harper’s life as happy and normal as it can possibly be,” he said. 

“She is our rock.

“She is my rock and Harper has definitely been blessed to be born with a mum like that.”  

Mr Blewitt remembers reading somewhere before Harper was born that “parents were chosen to take on these special kids because of their strength and courage”. 

“Rowena is definitely no exception,” he said. 

“Harper chose Rowena because she has all of that and more.  

“His path could have been a lot different if it weren’t for her.”