Local three-year-old in need of vital heart procedure

IDAHO FALLS-- VO: By looking at 3-year-old Delainee Pond playing and laughing with her family, one wouldn't suspect she has life threatening heart deformities. Because of her complications she's is in need of a vital heart surgery.

SOT: “I just want her to be well and healthy and be able to do all the things other kids can do, and go swimming and have fun, and have the chance to be a little girl,” Lainee's Grandma Megan Denison says.

VO: Before Lainee was born doctors discovered her heart had some complications.

SOT: “When she was 20 weeks in my belly we went in for the normal gender scan, the anatomy scan, and when they were doing that they did notice that the heart looked abnormal. Basically, one side looked bigger than the other," Delainee's mom, Whitney Pond says.

VO: Lainee was born with five serious heart problems, and underwent her first heart surgery at only five days old. Recently, (In December 2015) it has come to her family's attention that one particular issue with Lainee's mitral valve has become severely worse.

SOT: “The one (issues) we are working on now is a mitral valve stenosis. Her mitral valve, when she was born, was deformed. Instead of having two muscles like a normal mitral valve, hers only has one,” Pond says.

VO: The mitral valve's main function is to pull blood out of the heart but instead the blood is being pushed back in. ** Move before SOT **

SOT: “The blood is back flowing back into her heart, which is causing pressure on other chambers. Then there’s actually fluid that’s starting to build up around her lungs, which can cause infection and other things in her lungs, and more problems," Pond says.

VO: Since Lainee's heart is growing exponentially worse she is seeking the professional help of her first heart surgeon, Dr. Aditya (A.K.) Kaza. She's set for a heart procedure in August at the Boston Children's Hospital, another stepping stone in Lainee's journey to a healthier heart.

SOT: “I really am hoping that once she get this valve replacement done that she will be able to continue her life like a normal child with activities such as gymnastics or dancing or sports. I really want her to have a normal life. Without this (surgery) she just can’t,” Pond says.

VO: Lainee's Mom Whitney Pond says she's grateful for all of the help she's received from doctors and the community. She says it's been hard on her family but she has hope for Lainee's future.

SOT: “She is amazing. She’s my hero. I don’t know how she does it. It doesn’t set her back one bit. With all the tests she’s had done the sedated echoes the heart caths and all the testing… she bounces right back,” Pond says.

To help Lainee's family fund the August procedure, go to Gofundme.com/2c5tuzg