At only 4 months old, Cheyenne Herzog will face the biggest challenge of her life next month.

The daughter of Chris and Karel Herzog of Lewiston was born July 14 with a congenital heart defect and will have to undergo open-heart surgery before her first birthday.

The condition - known as double outlet right ventricle - affects about 1 in 5,000 babies, Chris Herzog, 26, said. In December or early January, doctors at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane will patch the hole in Cheyenne's heart and replace a valve, which will allow greater blood flow.

"They're not going to say it's minor because it's on the heart, but they've done it a lot and they're pretty confident in how they do it," he said. "It's not common, but it's not that uncommon."

Cheyenne will need to have another open-heart surgery when she's around 7 to replace the valve as she outgrows it.

Karel, also 26, found out about her daughter's condition when she was about 24 weeks pregnant with Cheyenne.

"I had my first ultrasound in Lewiston," she said. "They could tell something wasn't right so they sent us up to Spokane."

The news was devastating, but doctors have helped give the couple peace of mind.

"It was very emotional for a few days afterward," Karel said.

"It's still nerve-wracking, but we've talked to the doctors enough that they give you a kind of comfort. ... They're pretty confident," Chris added. "When you find out, your mind goes to the worst-case scenario, you kind of hold on to that hope that maybe nothing's wrong and maybe they just messed up."

Chris works in set-up at ATK in Lewiston and Karel is a medical assistant at Clearwater Medical Clinic. The couple have two other children, Hunter, 6, and Kaylee, 2.

To help with the family's rising medical bills and other expenses, a spaghetti feed and silent auction will be conducted from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the big yellow barn located at Guardian Angel Homes, 2421 Vineyard Ave., in Lewiston. The all-you-can eat event includes spaghetti and meatballs, salad, garlic bread, drinks and dessert. Cost is $7 at the door and children 6 and younger are free.

The silent auction will feature more than 150 donated items, including two shotguns, a pallet of wood and a wagon full of alcoholic beverages. Donations may also be made in Cheyenne's name at Potlatch Federal Credit Union.

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Gaboury may be contacted at kgaboury@lmtribune.com or

(208) 848-2275.