THIBODAUX, La. – A police department in Lafourche Parish has welcomed back one of its detectives after he had not one, but two lung transplants.
In early April, the Thibodaux Police Department shared a photo welcoming back 35-year-old Paul Thibodeaux. He has been in law enforcement for 15 years, with his last five with Thibodaux Police. But for the last year, he has been recovering from a double transplant.
"I was born with cystic fibrosis and it's a degenerative disease. So for years I stayed pretty healthy," Thibodeaux said.
Then, things took a turn for the worse.
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“I went down to about 108 pounds and I was about 15-12 percent lung function. I was on oxygen 24 hours a day," Thibodeaux said. "I was walking and I had to bring my oxygen mask everywhere I went. Just sitting in the house I needed to be on oxygen.”
Thibodeaux needed new lungs or he would die. The Chauvin, Louisiana native was placed on a waitlist for nearly five months until his saving grace arrived.
“He was a marine. He was 22-years-old. His name was Chad," Thibodeaux said. "I talk to his sister, his mom, his dad all the time.”
Thibodeaux actually wanted to join the military himself, but could not because of his health issues. In a twist of fate, the death of Chad Chilsom, a 22-year-old marine, would provide his second chance at life.
Thibodeaux had his double lung transplant on May 30, 2015. The date is tattooed on his arm.
“I thought that one was going to be it,” Thibodeaux said.
But it wasn’t.
That would be Thibodeaux's first lung transplant, but not his last. He knew almost immediately that something was not right.
“I didn’t feel like it took real well," Thibodeaux said. "My body kept having little bouts of rejection. Even though I was healthy, I still had to get antibiotics every now and then.”
There were complications and lots of stress, which he says ultimately cost him his marriage. But he was moving forward and had gone back to work. Everything was fine until January of 2017 when he caught a virus.
Thibodeaux needed new lungs, again.
“I almost died getting the tests done," Thibodeaux said. "I stopped breathing on the heart echo. They go in through your neck, they let air into my chest cavity and collapsed my lungs.”
This time he waited for just five weeks. On August 21, 2017, he was back at Ochsner for his second double lung transplant.
“You feel a million times better the second you get up from the transplant,” Thibodeaux said.
This time, he stayed feeling better. He is beyond grateful to both of his donors.
“I am friends with the family of my first donor. I’ve been to their house the last two Thanksgivings," Thibodeaux said. "I talk to them almost every day.”
Thibodeaux says he wants to meet his second donor's family, but there is a one year waiting period before he can check to see if they want to meet him.
“I just hope they realize how many lives they are changing," Thibodeaux said. "My first donor saved I believe like five of us. I just want them to know it means more than anybody could tell them.”