A Tale Of The Heart

The Capital Times
Saturday, June 21, 2003
By Aaron Nathans The Capital Times

Dennis Hull and Sherry Ellens, both of Waupun, have known each other for just about their whole lives. A few years ago, they ran into each other at a gas station, and he asked her to take a ride with him on his motorcycle.

That's how their love story began. On Friday, they were married.

"I wanted to marry her 30 years ago. She didn't like me then," Hull said.

He's got a wry sense of humor -- and good thing: Their wedding was held under less than ideal circumstances.

Hull is in heart failure and in need of a transplant. They began planning the wedding, in a small chapel at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, two weeks ago, when he proposed to her in the hospital. The afternoon ceremony was attended by a team of doctors and nurses, one of whom played a few tunes on his classical guitar.

"It definitely gives new meaning to the term in sickness and in health,' " said Frank Philipp, the hospital chaplain who officiated.

Hull, 47, is in critical condition. He was wheeled into the chapel, attached by tubes to a left ventricular assist device, which is helping his heart pump. The machine beeped occasionally during the ceremony.

The groom wore a blue shirt with a boutonniere, gray sweatpants and socks.

Ellens, 43, held a bouquet and wore white. She dabbed away tears during the ceremony, as Hull talked of asking her father for his blessing, which he conferred.

She was quite a catch for Hull in more than one regard: She is a certified nurse assistant. She has not been working lately as she takes care of Hull, said Sarah Pater, who is engaged to Ellens' son, Eric Harteau.

The fact that Hull's brother, Harlan, was able to make it to the wedding was testimony to the fact that this happy couple could be together for some time to come.

"I recovered real good," said Harlan Hull, 40, who had a heart transplant last year and arrived at the ceremony on his own two feet. He had heart failure, too. Their other brother, Jim, died of the same ailment in 1998 at age 41.

Dennis Hull's doctors say they don't know how long he can survive waiting for a heart. He has already been waiting six months and is expected to stay at the hospital until he gets a transplant.

Both bride and groom said they were feeling great on Friday.

"I've got the best doctors in the world. Once the heart comes, everything will go good," Hull said.

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