Pineville father recovers from double lung transplant, walks daughter down the aisle

PINEVILLE, N.C. — A double lung transplant is giving a Charlotte pastor a second chance at life, but his second chance didn't come without a fight.

In the wake of the operation, Tim Cox said he is, “Just so thankful."

At one time, the Pineville father and pastor wasn't sure he'd get another lung.

“I was on oxygen,” he said. “And more and more oxygen was needed to just go through a normal day.”

In 2014, doctors diagnosed him with a progressive lung disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, which scars the tissue.

People with the disease eventually are not able to breathe unless it is treated.

For treatment, Cox and wife Diane traveled to Cleveland, where they waited for a transplant.

(VIDEO CLIP: Pastor's wife talks about husband's condition)

He finally had one in 2016 but 10 days later, he suffered a stroke. Still, the Pineville father wasn't ready to give up.

“Last thing I remember was whispering a prayer that I'd be able to hold my grandson,” he said.

By November of that year, he was able to meet his newborn grandson.

“So that was just a real miracle,” he said.

The Pineville father got another call from his daughter Melissa, who was now engaged.

“We were excited, but I'm still in the hospital in Cleveland, so I'm like, ‘When's the wedding?” Cox said.

Cox walked his daughter down the aisle April 29.

“I was gliding along,” Cox said. “It was like walking on air.”

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