An 18-year-old returned to her Detroit high school on Tuesday with a new kidney, donated by her gym teacher.

Students threw confetti as A'Ja Booth entered the West Side Academy, walking arm-in-arm with Nadirah Muhammad down a red carpet in the gym. Muhammad, 39, gave Booth the kidney for transplant in December.

'I'm blessed and I'm thankful,' Booth told the students, fighting back tears.

A'Ja Booth, 18, returned to her Detroit high school on Tuesday with a new kidney, donated by her gym teacher

West Side Academy senior A'Ja Booth, left, and her teacher Nadirah Muhammad enter a welcome rally for Booth at the Detroit school on Tuesday

For four years, she left school early three days a week to undergo kidney dialysis. She wrote a book about her experience, My Dialysis Journey, which led Muhammad to make the offer, The Detroit News reported.

Muhammad said she overheard Booth last May talking to another teacher about the book she was then writing.

'After I read her story, I immediately decided that I wanted to volunteer to donate one of my kidneys,' Muhammad told the Detroit Free Press. 'If that was my child, I would want someone to do the same. It was a no-brainer.'

On December 15, an operating crew at Henry Ford Hospital removed Muhammad's kidney, placed it in a cooling solution packed in ice in a cooler and rushed it to an operating room at Children's Hospital three miles away, where Booth was waiting.

Henry Ford surgeon Dr. Jason Denny transplanted the kidney into Booth.

'I've had a lot of combinations, but I don't know about student-teacher,' said Henry Ford surgeon Dr. Jason Denny, right

For four years Booth left school early three days a week to undergo kidney dialysis. She is set to graduate on June 8 and wants to be a nurse

'I've had a lot of combinations, but I don't know about student-teacher,' the doctor said. 'We've had ex-wives, and bosses and their employees.'

The transplant was a success. Booth now takes more than 20 pills day, some designed to ensure her body doesn't reject the new organ. She said she is healthy and happy and looking forward to the future.

Booth, who is set to graduate on June 8, said she plans to attend Oakland University and wants to be a nurse.