Mary Ann Hennosy was born Jan 19, 1952, and thus began a life that continues to be a powerful demonstration of God's amazing grace in the midst of adversity. Mary Ann was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck and suffered brain damage resulting in Cerebral Palsy. At that time her father upon learning of his newborn daughter's medical problems and fearing she would die, knelt down and prayed that God would spare her life. His prayer was graciously answered and Mary Ann grew up with six brothers and sisters on a 40-acre hillside in Charleston, West Virginia.

Despite her serious motor skill limitations, Mary Ann is quite capable intellectually and learned to keep up with her siblings by crawling along after them, all the while considering her ability to do so, one of God's biggest blessings in her life.

In 1972 Mary Ann's family moved to Saint Petersburg, Florida believing the city's lack of hills would make it easier for her to get around. These days it is not at all unusual to see her riding around town on her three-wheeled bicycle or her electric scooter, shopping, attending Church, and greeting her friends with a joy filled smile.

In 1977 Mary Ann visited an exhibition and demonstration by Artist Betty Blue (wife of silent screen actor, Monte Blue). Betty took interest in Mary Ann, and with some encouragement, and a system of sandbags and pulleys to help steady and add control of movement, Betty began teaching her the basics of color mixing and painting technique. As Mary Ann's gift developed, her paintings - with their vibrant colors, landscapes, clowns, religious themes, and animals - began winning blue ribbons at art shows. They soon became a testimony to Mary Ann's positive, faith-filled, love of life.