Maria Wilmes, 15, received the first heart-lung transplant in the state of Nebraska in December 2017.
Wilmes was diagnosed in October 2004 with pulmonary hypertension caused by congenital heart disease. Doctors said she would eventually need a heart-lung transplant.
Health professionals said Wilmes would eventually need a transplant.
Less than 50 heart-lung transplants are completed each year internationally, but Wilmes was chosen to receive her transplant in December 2017 at Nebraska Medicine.
The operation lasted about eight hours with a team of specialists from Nebraska Medicine.
Wilmes hopes to return home to Sioux City area by March.
