LEAD - Anna Mollman will turn 18 today, lucky to be celebrating after getting a rough start to her life.

Born with a diaphragmatic hernia, Mollman said, "I was pronounced dead three times."

The life-threatening hernia displaces a newborn's internal organs and hinders her breathing.

A blizzard in April 1991 prevented Mollman's doctors at Lead-Deadwood hospital from getting a transport plane into Spearfish to fly baby Anna out for infant intensive care and surgery in Denver.

Instead, hospital staff drove Anna to Rapid City Regional Hospital, and with the aid of equipment provided by the Children's Miracle Network, she was able to stay alive until she could be flown to Denver for emergency surgery.

After her surgery in 1991, Anna returned home 10 days later and is now in great health 18 years later.

A senior at Lead-Deadwood High School, Anna organized a talent show April 6 at the Homestake Opera House and accepted donations for Children's Miracle Network. The show raised $1,827.06 for the charity, including a $1,000 donation from Wharf Resources.

Anna said she chose to raise money for the charity in part because the proceeds stay with local hospitals so they can buy intensive care equipment for newborns and children.

"I would have died, but thanks to equipment and supplies from Children's Miracle Network, they saved me," Anna said.

Anna's family had a second round of dealing with the same issue when her young brother, Stephen, was born four years later.

According to their mother, Susan, Stephen's hernia case was more extreme, and he required additional emergency transportation to get to Denver.

Stephen, now 14, helped Anna on Monday with the lights at the talent show. Anna put on the fundraiser as part of her English class "Senior Experience" project.

The project is required of all seniors in order to meet graduation requirements, according to English teacher Barb Fosheim.

Students must complete a project that creates a product, with written research and a final presentation.

Projects have included publishing books, writing and directing plays, creating a business plan and restaurant menu, building computers and remote-control cars and rebuilding car engines.

"The sky is the limit," Fosheim said. "We encourage them to explore whatever they want to do."

Anna's show featured about 20 acts in a wide range of ages and expertise levels, including singers, comedians, bands, dancers and drummers.