The Inspiring Legacy of Hellen Keller

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“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched-they must be felt with the heart,” claims Helen Keller, a blind and deaf woman since the age of 19 months when she contracted what the doctors of her era called “brain fever”, now known as scarlet fever (www.nndb.com). Throughout her life, she began as a scared child and transformed into a bold, “miracle worker”. Helen Keller transformed the lives of others with her dedication and work, involved herself in political causes and even inspired other deaf-blind children, before she went on to win numerous awards.
The beginning of her life began when she was first born on June 27, 1880, in a plantation known as Ivy Green located in Alabama. Keller was healthy and most found her attractive with curly, blond hair and pale blue eyes. (ww.nndb.com). Shortly after she began getting congested in the brain and stomach, Keller lost both her sight and her ability to hear. Doctors informed Kate Adams Keller, Helen Keller’s mother, she would not survive past the age of two years old. However, through hope and dedication, Kate Keller contacted a physician. He claimed he could be no help, and sent them to meet Alexander Graham Bell, who, in return, handed them off to Perkins Institute for the Blind. Director Michael Anagnos called a former student by the name of Anne Sullivan. Although Sullivan was also partially blind, she could still manage to help Helen Keller and Sullivan was brought home with her. After many months with no success, Sullivan led Keller to a water pump in the back yard. She ran the cold water over Keller’s hand as she made the hand signs spelling out w-a-t-e-r in Keller’s palm. Something invisible snapped inside Helen Keller and that is ...

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...ter pump where she learned her first word, is the first statue of a disabled person to be kept and displayed in the Capital Building (www.wikipedia.com). She showed that even with a disability, Keller made it that far, which is truly an inspiration to all.
After a life-changing event like becoming blind and deaf, most people would probably give up on most of their dreams and goals. Helen Keller was strong, determined, and did not allow her disabilities control her life. She went on to college, got involved in politics and other famous causes, and inspired other disabled children by her accomplishments. She was married to Peter Fagan before her parents made them divorce, and even after she died in her sleep on June 1, 1968, her legacy still remains (www.nndb.com). Helen Keller will forever be remembered as one of the most influential people of the 20th century.

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