One moment she was a 20-year-old aspiring artist, a painter possessing tremendous talent and potential. The next moment Mariam Pare’ was a quadriplegic, the victim of random gun violence, shot by an unknown assailant while driving her car.

Her dream of artistic success was dead. Or was it?

The debate over gun violence is raging this election year as pro- and anti-gun advocates clash over Second Amendment freedoms versus the staggering numbers of gun violence victims.

Her assailant was never arrested and Mariam has lived with the consequences of his actions ever since that awful day in 1996. She underwent years of painful and exhausting physical therapy, but along the way, she experienced a miracle. She was taught to hold a pencil in her mouth to write her name and her dreams were given new life as she began painting with her mouth.

Today, Mariam is a successful commercial artist thanks to her association with Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA), an international consortium of disabled artists around the world who make their living selling their work as reproductions on greeting cards, calendars books and other gift items.

Mariam is available for an interview to discuss how she leads a productive and fulfilling life despite her condition and the healing power of art.

You can see samples of her artwork here: http://www.mariampare.com/gallery

Time lapse video of Mariam painting by mouth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhkyO_YBgg0