Attheageof19months,HelenKellerwasahappy,healthygirl.Shecouldalreadysayafewwords.Unfortunately,shehadahighfeverwhichcausedhertobecomedeafandblind.Nolongercouldsheseenorhear.Thefevercutherofffromtheoutsideworld,deprivingherofsightandsound.Itwasasifshehadbeenthrownintoadarkprisoncellfromwhichtherecouldbenorelease.Shefeltlost.
Afterthat,shebegantoexploretheworldbyusingherothersenses.Shelearnedtodomanythingsthisway.Forexample,shecouldrecognizepeoplebyfeelingoftheirfacesortheirclothes.
Shemadeupsignswithherhandssoshecould"talk"toherfamily.Shehad60differentsigns.Helenwasaverybrightchild.Soonshefoundherselfwasdifferentfromotherchildren——shecouldn'ttalk.Thismadehersoangrythatsheusedtohurlherselfaroundtheroom,kickingandscreaminginfrustration.
Thefamilyknewtheyhadtodosomethingtohelpher.So,justbeforeherseventhbirthday,thefamilyhiredaprivatetutor—AnneSullivan.AnnetaughtHelenthesignsforthelettersofthealphabet.Thenshewould"spell"thewordsinHelen'shandtocommunicatewithher.OnedayAnneledHelentothewaterpumpandpumpedwateronherhand.ShespelledthelettersW-A-T-E-RasthewaterranoverHelen'shand.Shedidthisoverandoveragain.AtlastitdawnedonHelenthattheword"water"meantthewaterwhichshefeltpouringoverherhand.Thisopenedupawholenewworldforher.SheraneverywhereaskingAnnethenameofdifferentthingsandAnnewouldspellthewordsinherhand.
Helenhadanamazingmemory,andshealsohadskillsveryfewpeoplehaveeverbeenabletodevelop.Shecouldputherfingerstoaperson'slipsandunderstandthewordswhichwerebeingspoken.
Whileshewasincollegeshewroteherbookcalled"TheStoryofMyLife".Withthemoneysheearnedfromthebookshecouldaffordahouse.
Shebecamefamousandtraveledaroundtheworldspeakingto
groupsofpeople.Shemetmanyimportantandwell-knownpeopleasshetraveled.
Afterherdeathin1968anorganizationwassetupinhernametocombatblindnessinthedevelopingworld.Todaythatagency,HelenKellerInternational,isoneofthebiggestorganizationsworkingwithblindpeopleoverseas.
IamtouchedbyhowfirmHelenis.Comparedtoher,wearemuchhealthierandliveahappierlife.Afterreadingthestoryofher,Igettoknowhownecessaryweshouldenjoyourlife.AndIrealizethatifyoukeepworkinghard,youwillsucceedsoonerorlater.Helenwillalwaysberememberedasaheroineinmymind.