TOP PHOTO: Zach Lloyd makes his first visit to Charley’s Pizza since the fall of 2020.

WLAF’s Charlie Hutson captured Zach Lloyd on his joyous return home on Tuesday, May 11, 2021.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Since the surprise welcome home parade and police escort a year ago today, it’s been quite a fast paced last 12 months for COVID-19 survivor and double lung transplant recipient Zach Lloyd. It was Tuesday, May 11, around 5pm, when Lloyd was met by hundreds of well wishers lined along the four lane from near the interstate through La Follette. Lloyd knew about the police escort, but the rest caught him totally off guard.

“My sister, Kyra, did a masterful job of keeping our kids away from Facebook and all the welcome home signs at Terry’s Pharmacy and other businesses. She was able to get them to our parents home and in place for Zach’s surprise arrival,” said Zach’s wife, Sara.

The sirens signaled to their children, Lily and Titus, that something was up as Zach and Sara drove down the driveway. “It was absolutely a beautiful moment, and the outpouring from the community and church showed,” said Sara. She adds that she’d never been so homesick.

Zach Lloyd (left) is the pastor at East La Follette Baptist Church while Cody Mundy, Zach’s former associate pastor/youth minister, is the pastor at Alder Springs Baptist Church.

In addition to Zach’s homecoming, May 11 is also his father-in-law Jim Heatherly’s birthday. So for the homecoming and the birthday, Zach requested Charley’s Pizza for his first meal back home. Ironically, yesterday, we ran into Zach at Charley’s Pizza, his first trip there since coming back home. “Transplant patients aren’t allowed to eat from buffets, so I had to order a pizza, my favorite, the BLT pizza. It was also my first time not having the buffet at Charley’s,” said Zach.

Zach reflected on his time at Vanderbilt Medical Center, about seven months, and just how slowly time passed as he recovered and longed for home. “Once I came back home, time has flown, and I’m about as back to normal as before plus I’ve a lot of really good times with Sara and the kids,” said Zach.

Zach pastors East La Follette Baptist Church and also works at Mirion Technology at Oak Ridge. He hadn’t been at Mirion very long until COVID hit. “They stayed in touch and regularly told me that when I was ready, my job was there,” said Zach.

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Perhaps the most moving photo of the day last May 11 was this of Zach Lloyd’s mother, Joy Longmire, as she stood along the four lane waiting to welcome him home.

“I’ve dropped about a hundred pounds and weigh most days between 225 and 230. My lowest weight was 197 during my recovery,” said Zach.

Church, work, family and giving back have kept Zach extra busy. He serves on the Campbell County Christian Learning Center Board of Directors, is an advocate for Donate Life TN and is on the newly formed Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Advocacy Board. “Serving on these boards is my way of giving back,” said Zach.

As Zach does his part in giving back, I think I speak for all of us in saying that we’re all glad Zach is back. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 05/11/2022-6AM)

2 Replies to “Real life miracle Zach Lloyd reflects on life a year later”

  1. Miracles do happen, there are guardian angles, and yes there is a God. You’ve traveled a long road but you were not alone. Best wishes to you now and for the future.

  2. So glad you are on the mend! You are an incredible man. I’m so happy for you and your family! They can rest a little easier now! God Bless you, your family, everyone, and everything!

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