South Korean 2-year-old youngest ever to get lab-made windpipe from her own stem cells

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In this July 13, 2012 photo, Hannah Warren, 2, poses with her parents Lee Young-mi and Darryl Warren at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Hannah received a new windpipe made from her own stem cells in a landmark operation on April 9, 2013, at Children\'s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria, Ill. She is the youngest patient ever to get the experimental treatment. Hannah was born without a windpipe and her doctors in South Korea expected her to die, but doctors in Illinois said Tuesday, April 30, 2013, she is recovering and likely will lead a normal life. (AP Photo/The Korea Herald, Kim Myung-sub) KOREA OUT, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

CHICAGO – A 2-year-old born without a windpipe now has a new one grown from her own stem cells.

She’s the youngest patient in the world to benefit from the experimental treatment.

Hannah Warren had been unable to breathe, eat, drink or swallow on her own since she was born in 2010 in South Korea. Until the operation three weeks ago in Peoria, Ill., she had spent her entire life in a hospital in Seoul. Doctors there told her parents there was no hope and they expected her to die.

Doctors in Illinois announced Tuesday that the little girl is recovering and will likely lead a normal life.

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