Karen - by Marie Killilea (Paperback)

About the Book

Winner of the Christopher Award, this bestseller tells the inspirational true story of a girl with cerebral palsy. Written by Karen's mother, this memoir is a profound and heartwarming personal account of a young mother's efforts to refute the medical establishment's dispiriting advice, and her daughter's extraordinary triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds.

Book Synopsis

Winner of the Christopher Award: This bestseller tells the inspirational true story of a girl with cerebral palsy and the mother who wouldn't give up on her.

In 1940, when Karen Killilea was born three months premature and developed cerebral palsy, doctors encouraged her parents to put her in an institution and forget about her. At the time, her condition was considered untreatable, and institutionalization was the only recourse. But in a revolutionary act of faith and love, the Killileas never gave up hope that Karen could lead a successful life.

Written by Karen's mother, Marie, this memoir is a profound and heartwarming personal account of a young mother's efforts to refute the medical establishment's dispiriting advice, and her daughter's extraordinary triumph over seemingly insurmountable odds. Marie's activism spread awareness of the mistreatment of disabled people in America and led to the formation of multiple foundations, including United Cerebral Palsy.

A larger-than-life story, Karen tells of a family's courage, patience, and struggle in the face of extreme difficulty. The New York Times wrote, "You'll want to read it most for Karen's own words: 'I can walk, I can talk. I can read. I can write. I can do anything.'"

Review Quotes

"A warm and winning and spirited account of a young mother's attempt to overcome the liabilities of cerebral palsy, and to refute the first medical verdict that her little girl would have 'an existence but no life' . . . A gallant account, in very human terms." --Kirkus Reviews

"A wonderful story of human courage, patience, and triumph. But you'll want to read it most for Karen's own words: 'I can walk, I can talk. I can read. I can write. I can do anything.'" --The New York Times

"Extraordinary is the word to be used first, last, and repeatedly about this book. . . . Anyone who meets Karen, even on paper, will postpone resigning from the human race." --Saturday Review

About the Author

Marie Killilea is the author of two bestselling books, Karen and With Love from Karen. In 1940, Marie's daughter Karen was born three months premature, measuring only nine inches and weighing less than two pounds. It would take years for doctors to diagnose her with cerebral palsy, and even more to find proper treatment. When the family was told that they should put her in an asylum and forget about her, which was what many others did at the time, they refused and instead took on the daunting challenge of treating her at home. Confined to a wheelchair since her teens, Karen learned to walk with crutches, write, and even swim, after years of painstaking work. She later became a receptionist at the Trinity Retreat House in Larchmont, New York, where she worked for almost forty years. Marie died in 1991, followed by her husband two years later. Karen resides in an accessible apartment in Larchmont, living a happy life, continuing to be an inspiration to all around her.