Philly girl, who needs new lungs, all smiles at party

An 11-year-old Philadelphia girl was all smiles on Saturday after a birthday party fit for a princess.

But it was more than a celebration - it was also about helping the girl battle a very serious medical condition.

That's because Coco Maldonado needs a double lung transplant.

She can only take shallow breaths, but on Saturday said she felt "Special. Like they're coming here to help me."

Coco was talking about the people who packed a fundraiser at Curtis Bowling Lanes in Ewing, New Jersey, on Saturday and the community members who donated gifts for raffles and cakes.

She also made sure she looked her best for the big day!

"I got my hair done, I got my nails done," she told Action News.

Coco has pulmonary fibrosis and spends most of her time at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

She knows new lungs are her only option.

"I think it will be good because I won't get sick a lot, be in and out of the hospital," she said.

Coco lives with her grandparents in Northeast Philadelphia. Her mother is not involved in her life and her father was murdered eight years ago.

Family members were nearly in tears talking about the special little girl.

"She is so sweet. She's my eyes, my heart. She's everything to me," said her grandmother, Lucy Rivera.

"As you meet her now she's sweet, she's smiling. I look at her all the time. I don't want to lose her," said her uncle, Angel Maldonado.

Her uncle is also working to raise money for renovations to Coco's room and her medical expenses.

So far, on GoFundMe.com, they have raised half their goal.

LINK: TeamCocoLee on GoFundMe.com.