I hope my story will inspire people around the world to not give up but keep fighting.  My life is far from perfect but my story is one that might lead you to ask, "How can she survive this?"

Today I’m celebrating my 32nd birthday and I am still in awe and amazed at how far I've come. This is my story in my own words of God’s faithfulness and love and His perseverance.

I am of Mayan descent and was named Ester Contreras. I was born on March 9, 1989 in a remote village on the banks of the Rio Dulce in Guatemala. I was born with a very serious heart condition which was later diagnosed as Pulmonary Atresia. My birth mother chose to give me up for adoption months before my birth.

I’ve had a lot of battles to fight to get where I am today. I’ve had eight heart surgeries, about ten heart catheterizations, and 3 pacemaker implants (& expect to get another in 2022). 

Through all of these trials I’ve had God there holding my hand all the way. He’s been there from the time I was conceived. He had a plan for me and continues to.

I can tell you I have no hatred towards my birth mother for what she did. She only wanted the best for her daughter even if she had to give me up for adoption. After I came to the U.S. the heart doctors at Geisinger in Danville, PA told my mom that I would never have survived if I had to grow up in Guatemala because of all my heart problems, so the Lord had planned for me to come to the U.S. all along.

I love the family God has placed me with me. We haven't always seen eye to eye, mostly in my teen years, but they love me and only want the best for me.

When I graduated from high school in 2007 Mom and Dad got me my senior class ring with my name & the Greek word "hupernikomen" inscribed on the inside of the ring. I know what that means since this is a spiritual concept my dad taught me when I was about 11 years old. He still asks me now and then, “What are you?” and my answer is always, "I am an overcomer".

You see, "hupernikomen" is the Greek word translated "more than conquerors". Literally this is "over conqueror".

So I encourage each of you, let's all live like overcomers in our lives today.

Also 7 years ago today. I had the privilege to get baptized by my dad along with his brother (Uncle) Pat Weber at his church in the Lehigh Valley in front of my family and God.

I’m truly an OVERCOMER by the grace of God. I give Him all the glory today. I wouldn’t be here without Him.

If you are going through trials or tribulation in your life right now, where all you want to do is give up, don't give up! I am 32 years old now and I can tell you it's worth fighting for. I fought back when I could have died. God has shown me to be thankful for the good things in life, more than I could ever imagine. I continue to face challenges, but I remind myself constantly that I am an overcomer!! I reflect upon the blessings that I received in the midst of incredible difficulties and know that God is watching over me and He has never once failed me.

One of my favorite Bible verse is from Jeremiah 29:11, and it says: “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

This verse means that whatever the problem is in my life, God is going to be there holding my hand all the way till the very end. And it’s the same for you.  No matter what you are going through, God will be there holding your hand all the way. When things go wrong or go in a different direction than you expected, God has a perfect plan for you. Not just for you, but for all of us. He loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die on the cross.  What greater thing could we want in this life!


Ester Kathleen Weber