LAPLACE — A St. John the Baptist Sheriff Officer’s infant son will need an additional heart surgery to fix a birth defect, family and friends said.

Zane Dean and his twin brother Michael III were born May 9. While his brother was fine, it was discovered Zane had a birth defect three days later.

Dean is the son of Detective Michael Dean and Celeste Dean.

The family lives in Hammond.

“We were scared and nervous,” Celeste said. “We had no idea that anything was wrong from the ultrasounds or anything. We were never told anything. It was a surprise.”

Zane’s first surgery, which was a closed-heart procedure, took place June 26.

Lt. Blane Rome, who works with Michael Dean, said doctors don’t want to preform an open-heart procedure unless it is necessary.

According to Celeste, if the hole in Zane’s heart does not close on its own, he will need another surgery by the time he is 1 or 2 years old to repair it.

Zane has a ventricular septal defect (VSD), which means blood is going into his lungs instead of the rest of his body.

The American Heart Association says VSD is the most common congenital heart defect in a newborn. The septum is a wall that separates the heart’s left and right sides.

In normal development, the wall between the chambers closes before the fetus is born, so that by birth, oxygen-rich blood is kept from mixing with the oxygen-poor blood. When the hole does not close, it may cause higher pressure in the heart or reduced oxygen to the body.

Zane is suffering from high heart and respiratory rates.

To try and raise money for Zane and his family, the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office is holding a benefit lunch Thursday. For those who missed the deadline to place an order in that fundraiser, another way to help has been established.

An account has been opened under Zane Dean’s name with Regions Bank, where people can donate whatever they can.

There is no set dollar amount that is trying to be raised.

“We’re just trying to raise money and help the family,” Rome said. “Anything helps.”

Celeste said she and her husband are  grateful for the help of friends and family.

“We just want to thank everybody for their support,” she said. “It’s been amazing. We’ve never had anything like this happen before. These are our first kids, and seeing everyone willing to save and do whatever they can means a lot to us.”

— By Raquel Derganz Baker