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Daughter's Lung, Heart Transplant At Stanford 'Best Ever' Father's Day Gift

PALO ALTO (CBS SF) -- A Bay Area dad got the best Father's Day gift a man could get when his daughter got a lifesaving lung and heart transplant at Stanford after months on a waiting list.

John and Kathy Groebner moved their entire family from the Midwest to the Bay Area so doctors could care for their little girl Katie, who was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension.

Before the transplant, Katie had to wear a backpack that carried IV medicine to her heart.

The family got the call at 3 a.m. Saturday that Katie would get the new heart and lungs.

"Everything went as planned, and even better. No problems, no complications, nothing," John said.

Asked if it was a great Father's Day gift, he said "The best ever."

Katie's sister Savanna said she was recovering quickly.

"She did look a lot better. Like my dad said, her coloring in her face was so much better; her hands were warm not cold."

 

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