Sonia Sein, 56, underwent the first trachea transplant in the U.S. in January
The procedure may even be a world-first, but this was not confirmed by UNOS
Sein said she spent the past six years 'trying to catch every breath at every moment' after being intubated during an asthma attack damaged her trachea
The trachea, or windpipe, is difficult to transplant due to its complex system of blood vessels and tiny hairs that are key to its function
Sein is recovering and so far doing well, and breathing easily
As many as half of Covid patients put on ventilators sustain trachea damage, according to one Italian study