Nationwide — Christine Paul, a 44-year-old African American woman from New York, never imagined she would find love while recovering from heart surgery. However, that changed in February 2022 when she met Kendell Paul, a fellow heart patient, at North Shore University Hospital.
“When you’re sick, you imagine, ‘I’m going to find someone, they’re going to fall in love with me — and then they might end up losing me — or they might end up my caretaker.’ And who’s going to want that?” she told People.
In early 2022, pneumonia led to an infection that sent her back to the ICU. During her recovery, she often spoke with other patients, offering them support. That’s when she met Kendell, who was preparing for his own LVAD surgery.
They quickly bonded over their shared experiences. Both were parents of two boys, both were tall, and both had a son named Noah. They exchanged numbers and stayed in touch, initially as friends, offering each other encouragement through calls and texts.
By November 2022, they were both single, and Kendell invited Christine to dinner. Their connection was immediate, and they soon became inseparable.
Kendell, who could no longer work as a plumber due to his heart condition, retrained as a phlebotomist and EKG technician. Christine, meanwhile, continued her work with a non-profit advocating for organ donation. They supported each other through doctor’s appointments and daily life, growing even closer.
In December 2024, they married. Christine recalled, “It was such a beautiful day. What I’ll remember the most was when we said our vow: ‘In sickness and in health.’ What two people understand what that means [more than we do]?”
Their medical team at North Shore University Hospital celebrated their love story. Dr. Lauren Cooper, their cardiologist, said, “Not many people get LVADS and not many people get transplants — and so for them to have found support in each other and now live this life together is really inspiring.”