In March of 2001, Ms. Leiker was disabled by Scleroderma. Work had become impossible due to the disease and days were left empty and seemingly without purpose. Indeed, when God closes a door, he opens a window. As the disease would allow, she began to devote time to painting. Ms. Leiker says “When I get into a painting, it helps me put the pain and frustration of scleroderma on the back burner. I think of the painting and forget about me.”