Kentucky teacher returns home for Thanksgiving after double-lung transplant at Northwestern Medicine

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A teacher from Kentucky is back home for her first Thanksgiving in two years after getting a double-lung transplant at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.

Emily Presley was suffering from a series of viral and bacterial infections.

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She came to Northwestern Medicine from a hospital in Kentucky last October after her first double-lung transplant failed.

Another transplant was performed at Northwestern, and was a success.

"It feels surreal to think that I did all of that, I did do that hard thing," Presley said. "And it just makes me appreciate the day-to-day and the beautiful moments we have."

Presley spent the past year recovering, and has now headed back home to Kentucky, just in time for Thanksgiving.

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She is spending Thanksgiving at home with her husband, and she said she plans on returning to teaching as soon as she can.