DANIELLE Langston looks like a perfectly healthy two-year-old.

But the blueish tinge to her lips and hands is a sign of the serious heart defects that could mean she is already half-way through her short life.

Danielle was born with six different congenital heart defects and doctors predict she may only live until she is five.

The cheerful toddler, from Penhill, is obsessed with helicopters and her family are desperate to give her the chance to fly in one.

Danielle's mum Julie, 38, said: "When I tell people what is wrong with her they say she'll get better though.' And I have to say No. She's going to die.' "Dani wants to do everything other kids can, but she has to stop because she's constantly tired.

"She is such a happy girl. She'll play until she goes blue. We have to take her in to rest but she doesn't want to stop, especially if her brother is still playing.

"She can't walk very far. Even just going to the bus stop I'll have to pick her up.

"When she is ill, we have to take her to the doctor immediately. We can't just say it's a cold.

"I have to keep an eye on her 24 hours a day. I'm always checking for heart failure in case she goes blue and collapses. We have had to take her to the hospital like that twice, but luckily it was just an infection."

Danielle had to have her first major operation when she was just 24 hours old.

"If she hadn't had it she would have died," said Julie.

In two years, Danielle has had two major and two minor operations on her heart at Oxford's John Radcliffe hospital, but Julie says although doctors said they would improve her health, they did not expect any of the procedures to prolong her life.

"The doctors say every time they see Dani they learn more and more. They haven't seen anyone like her before," Julie said.

"They have seen each symptom on its own or two or three of them together but not all of them."

Danielle is still having six monthly check ups and is due to have more open heart surgery in the autumn to correct oxygenated and deoxygenated blood mixing in her body.

Danielle's father, bus driver Robin, 49, said: "If she really has only got until five, we want to give her a full life.

"We want to fill it with all the experiences of a full life even if it is only short."

Robin said his bosses at Thamesdown Transport were understanding in giving him time off, but it was hard when Julie had to stay in Oxford with Danielle and he had to juggle work, looking after their other children Tanya, 14, Sophie, 12 and one-year-old Mick and driving down to visit.

The family want more than anything to give Danielle her dream helicopter ride, but cannot find anyone to take her up.

"The problem is insurance," said Robin. "They won't insure anyone under five to fly in a helicopter, and she might not make it that long."

Julie said Danielle's fascination with helicopters started when Chinooks flew over their house at the start of the Iraq war.

"She just loves them and shouts out whenever she sees them," she said. "And the police helicopter comes over here often and she is always excited and reaching up when she sees it."

Anyone who knows of a helicopter and pilot who may be willing to give Danielle a ride is urged to contact the Advertiser newsroom on 01793 501802.