Helen Keller is one of the most inspiring people in American history. She had to overcome physical disabilities and many other obstacles to live the life she did. Keller was born June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. His parents, Arthur Keller and Kate Adams, both served in the Confederate ranks during the Civil War (Thompson, 2003). Like most parents, they were thrilled when Keller was born. At 18 months, he was a happy, healthy baby, already learning his first words. However, one morning she woke up with an extremely high fever and had to go to the hospital. The doctor told her parents that she was suffering from a serious illness known as "acute congestion of the stomach and brain." This disease caused him to lose his sight and hearing for the rest of his life (Wilkie, 1969). She was unable to communicate with anyone and was cut off from the entire world. For years, Keller would just hang on to his mother's skirt to move around and feel people's hands to try to find out what they were doing. She learned to do quite a few things this way, including milking a cow and kneading bread dough. She learned to recognize people by feeling their faces and clothes. By the age of six, Keller had invented 60 different signs to communicate with his family (Keller, 1988). She was a bright child, but she started to get frustrated and angry at not being able to speak and started throwing tantrums. The family knew they had to do something to help the child, so they began looking for a teacher. In March 1886, Anne Sullivan, 21, arrived at the Kellers; she immediately began teaching Keller how to communicate by spelling letters into her hand. A month after Sullivan's arrival, Keller made a big breakthrough middle of paper......in the National Statuary Hall collection (Wilkie, 1992). Keller even had several films made about his life story. Keller was an author, speaker, political activist and an individual many Americans will never forget. She overcame many obstacles and overcame her disabilities to achieve international fame. Her dedication has allowed her to help other people with disabilities live more fulfilling lives. The struggles she had to overcome prove to people that if they put their mind to it, they can achieve anything. Works Cited Forrest, Ellen. Helene Keller. Tucson: Learning Page, 2005. Print. Keller, Helen. The story of my life. New York: Bantam Dell, 1988. Thompson, Gare and Nancy Harrison. Who was Helen Keller? New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 2003. Print.Wilkie, Katharine E. Helen Keller: From Tragedy to Triumph. New York: Bobbs-Merrill Co., Inc..., 1969.