GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Her situation is dire, but her smile remains radiant. While others worry, Dani-Lynn giggles.

The community will come together on April 1 to put another smile on the 7-year-old’s face in a day-long music fest at The Corner Pocket to provide financial and emotional support for the girl battling three heart ailments.

The girl joined Paul Wane’s Rising Star Family in 2019. The program provides musical instruments to give children an alternative to playing video games and getting into trouble.

Wane will be joined by many of his friends to raise money and support for the little girl in what he calls “Keeping Faith.” There will be free concerts, a pool tournament, a silent auction, raffles and vendors to help the family pay for mounting medical bills – and the inevitable decision to move Dani-Lynn into Hospice.

“We want to make our ‘Nugget’ shine,” Wane said.

The Music lineup will include Wane’s Duval County Line, Curt Towne, Doc Moccasin, Remedy and Emily Anne Faith.

Wane, Towne and artist Lyneke collaborated to create a custom guitar that will be one of several items raffled. The guitar will be displayed at Towne’s Guitar Station at 421 Walnut St. in Green Cove Springs until the fundraiser.

Wane gained national notoriety in January when he played the “Star-Spangled Banner” ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars-Tennessee Titans game. Within minutes national media outlets were posting stories on the impressive performance.

Dani-Lynn was diagnosed with HLHS, VSD and PAPVR. She’s already been through two major surgeries, and a transplant isn’t likely to be successful.

“She has half of a heart, a hole in her heart, and poor left lung function,” said her mother, Amelia Early.

Currently, there is no cure for her heart disease.

“She always has a smile on her face,” her mother said last month. “She’s never met a stranger and loves life,” Early said. Dani-Lynn loves her sisters, misses her teachers and friends, and has a big heart for helping others. She dreams of being a heart doctor when she grows up.”