 "Photo: Courtesy")
Jeri Ivison Paholek, Class of 1991, met her husband at A&M and participated in Aggie traditions with eagerness, all while living with a rare heart defect that had given her a death sentence from the medical community.
When writer Rick Weber joined Grace Fellowship United Methodist Church in Katy, Texas, in May 2003 and came across Paholek's story, he had no idea she would become the subject of an inspirational book that he would start researching three years later. At the time, Paholek was preparing to travel to Stanford University to wait for a heart-lung transplant that she needed in order to live.
Weber describes his book as a story of radical faith about a woman who was born with a rare heart defect and given little chance to live, but who doesn't focus on her own suffering, rather put her efforts towards bringing light into others' lives.
Paholek was born with common ventricle, where her septum was absent, allowing the two ventricles to merge into a single chamber. This resulted in primary pulmonary hypertension, or Eisenmenger Syndrome, where the lung's vessels are constricted. Because of this, the heart is forced to pump harder to overcome the resistance, causing irreversible damage.
As she aged, many of her extremities were blue as a side effect of the disease. Weber titled his book for her desire to have "pink lips and fingertips."
Weber said the idea to write Paholek's story came to him in 2005 when a fellow parish member, counseling pastor Ruby Renz, mentioned Paholek's story.
"I'd mentioned that I wanted to write a book, and a couple of my ideas had fallen through; then she mentioned Jeri's story, and I felt God calling me really powerfully to write Jeri's story," he said. "Then a couple of amazing things happened that convinced me this was something I really needed to get on to."
Weber then made contact with Paholek's parents, Carolyn and Junny Ivison, both of whom have ties to A&M. Carolyn works as a senior secretary in the psychology department at A&M and Junny was formerly a maintenance crew chief at A&M. After meeting with the Ivisons for a day at their Bryan home, Weber returned to Katy.
The next morning, he went to Grace Fellowship and was amazed to discover the first song played by the praise band was "Blessed Be Your Name." It was the same song that Paholek had adopted in the months leading up to her move to Stanford.
The second sign that convinced him this was a project he should take on came a few days later -- just minutes after talking for the first time with Paholek's brother Jayme on the phone.
"Right after I got off the phone with him, I pulled out the swordfish that I was planning on grilling that night, and it was shaped like two hearts, and I just thought, 'Wow God, you are really on to something here.'"
Weber began interviewing for his book in July 2006, finished writing in March of this year and released the book in June.
"I believe this is an incredible book for anyone who is suffering- emotionally, physically or spiritually -- or for any one who has friends and family who are suffering," he said. "You read it, and you probably won't approach life the same way. It helps you realize that throughout any suffering or heartache in your life, you can still have a vibrant, passionate and dynamic life."
Paholek's parents, Carolyn and Junny, said they were willing to do whatever they could to help with the book.
"We are very honored as her parents that someone would want to write a book about her life," Carolyn said. "It's an indescribable feeling to have people tell us how the book has affected them and made their lives better."
Weber's book is available at bookstores around College Station, including Aggieland Outfitters, the MSC student bookstore and Scripture Haven. It can also be ordered in almost any bookstore and online.
"I feel like this book is really going to appeal to Aggies," Weber said. "Long before her parents started working there, she had a dream of going to Texas A&M, and she was one of the most devoted Aggies I've ever come across. It is full of things about Texas A&M that people will nod their heads and be fascinated with, and a number of pictures in the book that feature Texas A&M."
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