Karen Killilea was born dangerously premature in 1940, and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy. During an era in which people with disabilities were institutionalized and kept out of sight, Karen refused to let her condition hold her back. With the help of her parents, who advocated tirelessly for her, Karen painstakingly learned to write and to walk with crutches, and fought for her right to go to school. The Killileas also created a supportive organization for children with cerebral palsy, now known as the United Cerebral Palsy Association. Written by Karen’s mother Marie, this is a must-read about the struggles and triumphs of living with disabilities and the fight to be treated with basic dignity.
