Every day, an Iowa woman is taking steps toward a healthier future. Five years ago, Cheryl Campe got a transplant through "Lung-in-a-box." It's a unique technology that was new to Nebraska Medicine.Every day, Campe takes a trek around her neighborhood in Cherokee, Iowa. She walks 5-10 miles every day. But for many years, she wasn't able to.In 2016, Campe was diagnosed with COPD and Alpha 1 Anti-Trypsin Deficiency, two disorders that affect breathing."Then that's, when I got put on oxygen, then my life, like, did a complete turnaround," Campe said. In 2019, Campe was finally put on the lung transplant list at Nebraska Medicine. KETV Newswatch 7 caught up with her in 2020, the year after she got her transplant. "It's a blessing," Campe said in 2010. "I got a second chance at life and not too many people get that.""Cheryl was a participant in that clinical trial in which the lungs were retrieved from the donor and placed in this organ care system and then transported from the donor's location back to her," Dr. Heather Strah told KETV Newswatch 7 Friday.Created by Transmedics, the device is a portable system that keeps the organ alive while allowing it to move across several states if needed."Since Cheryl's transplant, the organ care system has become FDA approved, and is now used routinely, along with some other forms of organ preservation. to try to improve transplant outcomes for lung transplant recipients," Strah said.Being a lung transplant recipient, there are limitations for Campe. She can't go in the ocean or a swimming pool but she's still able to go fishing with her husband."When we're going to another spot to go fishing because we got a mud boat and we go up and down the river, I wear a mask when we're, like, moving on the boat because of all of the elements in the air and stuff," Campe told KETV Newswatch 7.She is grateful for the stranger whose one-time decision is the reason she can make her daily walks. "I want my donor to look down at me and say, wow, I did the right thing for checking that box," Campe said.She hopes others can take the steps to donate their organs to whoever may need them one day.Click here for the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7

Every day, an Iowa woman is taking steps toward a healthier future. Five years ago, Cheryl Campe got a transplant through "Lung-in-a-box." It's a unique technology that was new to Nebraska Medicine.

Every day, Campe takes a trek around her neighborhood in Cherokee, Iowa. She walks 5-10 miles every day. But for many years, she wasn't able to.

In 2016, Campe was diagnosed with COPD and Alpha 1 Anti-Trypsin Deficiency, two disorders that affect breathing.

"Then that's, when I got put on oxygen, then my life, like, did a complete turnaround," Campe said.

In 2019, Campe was finally put on the lung transplant list at Nebraska Medicine. KETV Newswatch 7 caught up with her in 2020, the year after she got her transplant.

"It's a blessing," Campe said in 2010. "I got a second chance at life and not too many people get that."

"Cheryl was a participant in that clinical trial in which the lungs were retrieved from the donor and placed in this organ care system and then transported from the donor's location back to her," Dr. Heather Strah told KETV Newswatch 7 Friday.

Created by Transmedics, the device is a portable system that keeps the organ alive while allowing it to move across several states if needed.

"Since Cheryl's transplant, the organ care system has become FDA approved, and is now used routinely, along with some other forms of organ preservation. to try to improve transplant outcomes for lung transplant recipients," Strah said.

Being a lung transplant recipient, there are limitations for Campe. She can't go in the ocean or a swimming pool but she's still able to go fishing with her husband.

"When we're going to another spot to go fishing because we got a mud boat and we go up and down the river, I wear a mask when we're, like, moving on the boat because of all of the elements in the air and stuff," Campe told KETV Newswatch 7.

She is grateful for the stranger whose one-time decision is the reason she can make her daily walks.

"I want my donor to look down at me and say, wow, I did the right thing for checking that box," Campe said.

She hopes others can take the steps to donate their organs to whoever may need them one day.