By Christopher Williams,Staff Writer

AUBURN – A 14-month-old girl born with three holes in her heart prompted Kathy Buckingham to go out dancing Saturday night for the first time since her son’s wedding.

Buckingham is a coworker of Kimberly Darling, whose daughter Cadence was born with heart defects that cause incoming and outgoing blood to mix. Open heart surgery aimed at plugging the holes is planned once she gains more weight, Darling said.

Buckingham of Sabattus and Buckingham of Mechanic Falls paid $3 apiece at The Other Side nightclub to help raise money for the American Heart Association.

Paul Morenci offered up his Court Street club and finger food, something he’s done for other nonprofit groups. The cover charge collected will be donated to the national organization.

Buckingham and Darling are two members of Paychex Walkers, a local team entered in the Central /Western Maine Walk at Montello School. The Sept. 25 Heart Walk is expected to raise $152,000 for the American Heart Association.

So far, 23 employees at the company where Darling works have joined her team. Becky Normandeau, of Auburn, another team member, said hitting the dance floor Saturday was the “first time in a long time for a lot of us.”

Team member Jason St. Onge was there but wasn’t dancing. He played drums for the band Sometimes it Burns, which donated its time to the cause. Two other rock n’ roll bands took turns in the spotlight through the night.

Cadence was born with Transitional AV Canal, which causes blood in the right ventricle to mix with that in the left. The condition lowers Cadence’s immune system, making her more prone to sickness, Darling said. When her weight reaches 25 pounds, doctors will be able to close the holes using pieces of plastic.

“That’s just too little to have to live like that,” Buckingham said.

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