Disease doesn't stop Catholic artist from painting, inspiring others

Published: 2004-11-01

HONOLULU (CNS) -- The paintings by Hawaiian Catholic artist Peggy Chun show no indication of her struggles. Chun, who for the past two years has been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, paints by holding a paintbrush with her teeth. In the face of the illness that attacks the nervous system and causes muscle cells to lose function, she has held firmly to her faith, her sense of humor and love for her friends and family. In a short span of time, Chun lost the use of her arms and legs and now must breathe with the help of a ventilator. Yet she still paints regularly, still gives an occasional painting lesson, attends art shows and goes out to dinner. And despite her tracheotomy, her voice still resonates with a passion for life that defies her disease. It's an attitude, she said, that is bolstered by "humor and total irreverence." "You just can't take things seriously, especially yourself," she told the Hawaii Catholic Herald, diocesan newspaper of Honolulu.

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