Wayne Latu is one of those guys whose daily dose of positive energy oozes out in BYU's football practices. His smile is a shiny row of Chiclets. His optimism knows few boundaries.

That's the way reporters found him after the Cougar running back finished BYU's Saturday practice. He paused for a quick interview before heading to the University of Utah's Primary Children's hospital where his second daughter, Amane Kina, born seven weeks premature, is battling for her life.

Amane Kina, which means "hopeful dreams" in Tongan, arrived Thursday after her mother, Mary Latu, was transported by helicopter from Provo to the University of Utah hospital.

"The little girl is just fighting for it," Latu said. "Right now the prognosis is that she will be in the hospital for three months. She has already had a couple of surgeries since she was born."

The infant, named after Wayne's sister Kina, weighed 3 pounds at birth. Her bowels developed outside of her abdomen, a complication that added to the ominous challenge of tiny developing lungs in a premature baby. Doctors have worked to enlarge the stomach cavity to re-insert the bowel. Latu admitted this is the first of many procedures his daughter must face.

"She's a fighter," he said. "She's just up there, you know, you become more of a devoted U. of U. fan when your little daughter is up there."

And with that, Latu exited. "Excuse me, I've got to run to the hospital right now."

"Everything is in good hands," said Wayne's older sister, Melba.

"The mom's doing fine, the daughter is getting treatment, Wayne went back to football practice today and his daughter is in one of the best care centers in the word. All expenses have been taken care of and they feel blessed for that. All they need now is emotional and spiritual support."

BYU president and LDS general authority Cecil O. Samuelson is expected to visit Kina this weekend and offer a blessing on the Latu child, according to Melba.

The family crisis is an interesting challenge for Latu, who has shown a heightened positive attitude so far in his BYU career. One of the top sprinters in the state while attending Orem and Timpview high schools, he has still been one of the fastest running backs in Cougar camp the past three years. Yet, he hasn't cracked the starting lineup.

His claim to fame was a 95-yard, 15-carry, 1-touchdown performance at UNLV in 2005, a game that was well in hand for the Cougars when Latu hit the field.