Except for her straight hair, you hardly notice a difference between 2-year-old Rebecca Nations and her twin sister, Misty. But Rebecca is different, a fact indicated by her selection as this year’s poster child for the Miss-Lou Heart Association.

Sometime soon, Rebecca will have surgery to repair what could be a life-threatening defect in her heart.

&uot;That baby has struggled for everything she has done, to sitting up, to crawling, to finally walking at 2,&uot;&160;said Tammy Melton, Rebecca’s relative.

Rebecca’s condition has progressed in the last year and is rapidly advancing to a life-threatening stage, her family said.

Without the surgery the disease will eventually cut off the blood to Rebecca’s heart.

She will need the surgery anytime now, said her mother Helen Nations.

Nations and Melton said they cried when Rebecca was named this year’s poster child because it forced them to face the problem.

&uot;It just scares you because you know your child has a heart problem,&uot; Melton said.

&uot;When something like this comes up you have to think about it,&uot; Nations said.

But they find it comforting to know people are supporting Rebecca.

And through her other people with heart disease may also get help, Melton said.

Both say Rebecca has struggled with many medical problems during her short life.

&uot;She’s come a long way,&uot; Nations said.

&uot;She’s a very special child,&uot; Melton said.