Fox Cities News

Melinda Hull, a heart transplant recipient, has begun her career as a registered nurse at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah. Her first day on the job was marked by witnessing an honor walk for an organ donor, a moment that resonated deeply with her due to her own experience receiving a donated heart.

“I had a really hard time for the longest time thinking, somebody else died in order for me to live,” Hull said. “But it’s what you do from here and moving forward that makes the opportunity, the second chance at life, worth it.”

Hull’s journey began more than a decade ago while she was studying nursing at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. During her final semester in 2011, she experienced symptoms such as chest palpitations and fatigue. These symptoms escalated until she fainted at school in early 2012 and was subsequently diagnosed with heart failure at age 23.

Heart failure occurs when the heart does not pump blood effectively, leading to symptoms like shortness of breath, swelling in extremities, fatigue, and irregular heartbeat. After her diagnosis was confirmed by cardiovascular specialists at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Appleton, Hull underwent treatment that included removing excess fluid from her heart and lungs.

Her condition initially improved with medication but later required advanced interventions. She received care through Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin—a partner providing specialized services such as transplants to ThedaCare patients—where doctors implanted a pacemaker to manage her heart failure.

Although this allowed Hull to complete nursing school, her health deteriorated again soon after graduation. She lost significant weight and saw her heart function drop below 15%. She then underwent surgery for a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), which helps circulate blood throughout the body but also created obstacles when attempting to take her nursing board exam due to state regulations prohibiting external devices in testing centers.

Despite support from medical professionals who advocated on her behalf—including offers to modify the device—the State of Wisconsin did not permit exceptions. As a result, Hull delayed becoming certified as a registered nurse while focusing on managing her health over the next twelve years.

After complications with the LVAD led to further surgeries—including three open-heart procedures within five months—Hull ultimately received a new heart through transplant surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. Following recovery, she returned to activities she enjoyed before falling ill and decided it was time to pursue certification as an RN once again.

“My donor passed away in February on Valentine’s Day,” Hull said. “I wanted to honor them in the best possible way I could. So, I ended up taking my board exam in February and I passed. I went 12 and a half years from when I graduated nursing school to when I passed my board exam.”

Hull chose ThedaCare as the place where she would begin practicing professionally: “My first official day in training, all of a sudden, a message came across the speaker system announcing that there was an honor walk,” Hull said. “I remember thinking I just wanted to walk up and squeeze the family and tell them that I am on the other end of what you’re going through. Obviously you can’t do that but I just knew that out of this sad experience something good would come from it. And I was living proof of that.”

According to Donate Life America (https://www.donatelife.net/statistics/), more than 4,000 people are currently waiting for new hearts across the United States.