Pink Lips and Fingertips
by Rick Weber
Xulon Press
ISBN: 978-1-60791-752-6
What would you do if you knew your time was short? Pink Lips and Fingertips answers this question through the life of Jeri Ivison Paholek, who was born with a rare heart defect called common ventricle and given a death sentence by the medical community. Instead of retreating inward and playing it safe to extend her years or embarking on extravagant global adventures, Jeri chose to impact the world–by corresponding with convicted bomber Timothy McVeigh on death row or starting a prayer stand immediately after the 9/11 attacks.
“In our world today, it seems like we’re on a journey down a mine-filled road of negativity, bank bailouts, immoral financiers swindling nvestors, companies downsizing or folding, the fear of a swine flu pandemic,” Weber says. “Deep inside, every one of us has a desire and a need to be inspired, to be captivated, to truly believe in the goodness of humanity. Jeri’s story, her indomitable spirit in the face of death, lifts us out of today’s caldron of confusion and allows us to shut off the commotion.
“I think this book comes at a critical time. You will not approach life the same way after reading it.”
Jeri’s heart defect meant that the septum was entirely absent at birth and the two ventricles merged to form a single chamber. It resulted in primary pulmonary hypertension (or Eisenmenger Syndrome), in which the lung’s vessels are constricted, forcing the heart to pump harder to overcome the resistance and causing irreversible damage. As she got older, all of her extremities were blue. One of her greatest desires
was to have “pink lips and fingertips.”
In 2003, Jeri was believed to be one of the oldest living Americans with her condition who had never had transplant surgery; but her organs were weakening. She was given a week to live unless she received a heart-lung transplant. Would she receive the organs she needed in time?
“Rick Weber always has searched for greater understanding of his subjects and the obstacles they face,” says Yahoo!’s Jason Cole. “Finding solace and inspiration in their tales goes beyond merely the details of his career, but permeates who Rick is on a personal level. It’s again obvious in his best work to date, Pink Lips and Fingertips. Jeri’s story isn’t just for those of faith, but for those who simply need to understand the will to survive and thrive in the face of life-threatening challenge.”
Pink Lips and Fingertips is available at www.xulonpress.com and www.amazon.com, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.target.com and Google Books starting August 15. It also can be ordered starting July 15 at 25,000 U.S. bookstores. Retailers can order the book through Ingram Book Company and Spring Arbor Book Distributors.
More information on the book is available at www.pinklipsandfingertips.com on Facebook on the Pink Lips and Fingertips group.
