Emergency icon Important Updates
Close
Important Updates

Coming to a Cleveland Clinic location?
E. 100th Street on Cleveland Clinic main campus closed

New Lungs Allow Dad to Walk Daughter Down the Aisle

When Tim Cox walked his daughter down the aisle at her wedding, the family also celebrated Tim’s remarkable journey and recovery following a double lung transplant and a stroke.

The 59-year-old pastor from North Carolina was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and his lungs had filled with scar tissue.

When medicines failed, Tim was put on the transplant waiting list at Cleveland Clinic.

“At that point he was quite, quite short of breath and was even having difficulty performing daily activities of living on his own,” says Marie Budev, DO, MPH, Medical Director, Cleveland Clinic Lung and Heart-Lung Transplantation.

Six months later, he received the lungs he had been waiting for, but his journey was far from over – just ten days after the transplant, Tim suffered a stroke.

“My whole right side was paralyzed and I just didn’t believe it,” says Tim.

Tim learned of his daughter’s engagement while he was in the hospital. Determined to walk his daughter down the aisle, he underwent rigorous physical therapy and 10 months later did just that.

“I was able to experience one of the highlights of being a Dad, and my highlight of walking your daughter down the aisle — there was not a dry eye basically.”

“I was able to experience one of the highlights of being a Dad, and my highlight of walking your daughter down the aisle — there was not a dry eye basically,” recalls Tim.

Without his donor lungs, Tim’s walk would not have been possible, and his family honored the donor family on that special day.

“We burned a candle up front on the stage in loving memory and appreciation for our donor family,” says Tim.

It’s been a long road recovering in Cleveland, and Tim Cox and his wife are ready to move on.

“Tim’s future looks bright, I’m so happy to say! We’re excited because he’s going to be returning home,” says Dr. Budev.

“Whatever happens I know is going to happen for my best,” says Cox. “We just don’t take life for granted and the specialness of life.”

Related Institutes: Respiratory Institute
Patient Stories

Patient Stories

Jim Crowley holding photo of him from 1968

A New Lease on Life: A Journey to a Pain-Free Back

Jul 8, 2025

“Within two weeks after the hour-long the surgery, I was back to my pre-1968 healthy back, I’m not held back from doing anything. I can’t say enough about the gratitude I have for what they’ve done. Thank you, Cleveland Clinic.”

Read Story
Tommy at restaurant and Tommy during recovery after stroke

Restaurateur Sees Improvement After Stroke With Innovative Treatment

Jul 1, 2025

“If a customer hadn't told me about this treatment for stroke, I wouldn’t have known about it. So, my job as a patient and somebody who cares very deeply about my customers is to share whatever I learn.”
Read Story
Audrey and Albert Ratner at the Cleveland Clinic 1921 Society event

Advice From a Very Wise Man – Don’t Ignore Hearing Loss.

Jun 30, 2025

“Our hearing is not going to adapt to us, we have to adapt to our hearing. The sooner you take action related to hearing loss, the better your life will be.”

Read Story
Back to Top