Carroll P. Matherne
November 25, 2008
RoseMary Smith Giron
November 28, 2008
Being thankful this holiday season is an understatement for one Lafourche Parish councilman, who recently underwent two bypass surgeries after doctor’s discovered blockages to his heart in October.
District 9 Councilman Daniel Lorraine has been recovery slowly at his Golden Meadow home.
“This is not a politician’s answer,” he said, “but some people told me that it was not going to be a bad surgery. That is not bad, but it is not good, either. You have to listen to what the doctor tells you. And the recovery is long and slow.”
About four months ago, Lorraine said he began suffering shortness of breathe while doing ordinary tasks like mowing the grass in his small backyard. He figured it would go away, but his wife, Dodie, scheduled a doctor’s appointment with the family’s doctor at Our Lady of Sea hospital as a precaution.
Lorraine was referred to Terrebonne General Medical Center, where he underwent an angiogram. Cardiologists discovered that he had several blocked arties disturbing normal blood flow to the heart.
In October, Lorraine met with a cardiac surgeon at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center to schedule surgery. Lorraine’s stint at Thibodaux Regional lasted a few days before he was sent home to recover.
Over the pass few weeks he has received many calls from “well wishers” praying for a speedy recovery. He has received calls about parish business, too.
The recent storms severely damaged many of the homes in Golden Meadow, making it difficult for the longtime councilman to put his health concerns ahead of performing his public service duties.
“Many people have called me because they were having trouble with debris pickup down the bayou,” Lorraine said. “A lot of them didn’t want to call, but they needed something to be done about their problem.”
“I am their councilman and they know I am always there to help them,” he added.
A fixture on the Lafourche Parish Council for 26 years, Lorraine was 30 when he was first elected to office in 1983.
“I didn’t know what I was getting into,” he said. “When I campaigned, I did a fairly good campaign. I knew some people and the people knew me.”
The main parish concerns in 1983 were streets, culverts and drainage. The parish council had a budget of nearly $7 million.
Today, the parish has an annual maintenance and operation budget that tops $50 million.
The 55-year-old councilman said the parish is still dealing with drainage and street worries with levee and pump station problems added to the mix.
During his tenure, Lorraine has earned a reputation as one of the parish administration’s most outspoken critics. He credits his “I am there when you need me” disposition with keeping him in the fight for parish constituents all these years.
“My name is placed on the ballot every four years,” Lorraine said. “Though I have running mates, my constituents still believed that I have what it takes to be their councilman, and I appreciate that. My job is to make sure that the people of the parish are done right.”
Results from a stress test will determine where Lorraine is in his therapy. He said he is exercising and following doctor’s orders. He hopes to be back to his normal parish council duties in December.
Lafourche Parish Councilman Daniel Lorraine hopes to return to work in the coming month. He’s been away recovering from double bypass surgery. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN
