A Year After Lung Transplant, Mokena Teen To Graduate High School
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An 18-year-old Mokena girl with cystic fibrosis will get to graduate with her class at Lincoln-Way West High School, thanks to a lung transplant she received at Loyola University Medical Center.
"Tuesday she's going to walk down the aisle, and I'm probably going to cry like a baby. I won't be able to control my emotions," said Sue Sweet, whose daughter, Rachel Sweet, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age 4. "There's been days upon months that we would just sit there and pray that one day, a gift from God, a donor would come along."
A donor was found in March 2014, and Rachel got the transplant she needed. Despite some bumps in the road, Rachel was able to complete her senior year, and next week she will graduate with her class.
Her mother said Rachel is like "a new child," 14 months after her lung transplant.
Rachel said she can do anything now, and from time to time, she remembers how sick she was.
"If I'm running, or something, and I get out of breath, I'm remembering that would be me as I was just walking somewhere, not even doing any major activity," Rachel said.
After graduation, the family is going to Florida to celebrate.