Kerman couple's love story captures national attention amid health battle

KERMAN, Calif. (KFSN) -- A Central Valley mates is capturing hearts crossed the state with a emotion communicative that's arsenic enduring arsenic it is inspiring.

Jeff and Grace Arends of Kerman person been nominated for the rubric of America's Favorite Couple, a nationalist contention that celebrates enduring love. But for the Arends, the designation is astir much than conscionable a title, it's a testament to their resilience successful the look of life-altering challenges.

The mates met successful Eureka successful 1995 portion attending college. Grace remembers being drawn to Jeff from the infinitesimal they met.

"He smiled, and it was nice," Grace said. "He has a bully gentle aura astir him."

Jeff recalls that Grace made the archetypal move.

"She really asked maine out," Jeff said. "I said yes, and we've been unneurotic since then, astir 40 years now."

Now joined with 2 children, the Arends person built a beingness rooted successful emotion and communal support.

That enslaved has been tested successful caller years.

In 2017, Grace was diagnosed with some aggregate sclerosis and trigeminal neuralgia, 2 incurable conditions that impact her tense and immune systems.

"She's a precise societal person," Jeff said. "But having this disablement compromise her immunity means she can't bash what she loves, similar hanging retired with friends. I conflict sometimes to spot her struggle."

Despite the hardships, Jeff has remained steadfast. He's sold 2 of his cars to assistance enactment the household and cares for Grace full-time.

"[In our wedding vows] we said 'in sickness and sickness, successful mediocre and poor' due to the fact that we knew that if richness and wellness came, that would beryllium a blessing," Grace said. "We wanted to marque definite we said the vows successful a mode that acknowledged the hard roadworthy ahead."

Their communicative has resonated profoundly with the Kerman community. A section radical nominated the mates for the nationalist contention and launched a run to assistance them win.

"Grace and Jeff person been pillars successful the community," said Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco. "Couples similar them are the heartbeat of the city. They met successful college, settled successful Kerman, raised their household here, and bought a location here."

Winners of America's Favorite Couple volition beryllium featured successful Variety mag and person a $20,000 prize, wealth the Arends accidental would spell toward Grace's aesculapian care.

"I'm looking guardant to the win," Pacheco said. "I can't ideate a amended mates to support."

When asked astir the concealed to their lasting bond, Grace says, "He's the quiet, soundless type, and I'm the societal type. I'm large and he's quiet, it's conscionable a bully yin and yang."

The Arends are presently ranked archetypal successful their group, but they request nationalist enactment to beforehand to the adjacent round. Votes tin beryllium formed astatine americasfavcouple.org/2025/jeff-and-gracee.

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