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what illness caused helen keller to go blind and deaf

viii incredible facts about Helen Keller

We've dug a little deeper on Helen Keller'southward story to share with you some lesser known facts about this remarkable woman.

You would all know the story of Helen Keller, the well known writer, political activist and pioneer for people with disability.

Just there's a lot more than to Helen's story than you've probably heard – then nosotros decided to dig a picayune deeper, and share some lesser known facts about this remarkable woman.

#1. A childhood disease took Helen's sight and hearing

Helen Keller wasn't born with a disability, but when she was just 19 months one-time, she became sick with what the doctors called "an acute congestion of the tum and the brain". These days her affliction probably would have been labelled Carmine Fever or Meningitis – both which could now be treated, but dorsum then they frequently had severe consequences.

A few days after Helen's fever broke, her Mum noticed she wasn't responding when the bell was rung for dinner, or when a hand was waved in front of her face.

Soon subsequently, they realised that Helen had lost both her sight and hearing.

#ii. Helen was called an 'unruly kid' when she was young

Helen Keller as a young child

When Helen was a a young child, her behaviour had go highly erratic. She was having daily outbursts of emotion; kicking and screaming when she felt angry, and giggling uncontrollably when she was happy. Many of her relatives even thought she be put in an institution

Merely the truth was, this behaviour really only boiled down to her high level of intelligence, and her frustration at non being able to communicate once she realised other were having conversations she couldn't join.

The want to be able to speak out became so strong, Helen even created a kind of sign language with her friend Marsha Washington – and past the time she was just seven years sometime, they'd already made up over sixty signs to communicate to each other.

#3. Helen believed her life started at the age of vii

Helen Keller holding a doll while sitting with her Teacher, Anne Sullivan

It wasn't until Helen met her teacher Anne Sullivan (who went on to become her mentor and friend), that she believed her 'soul was born'.

Anne showed up in Helen's life in March 1887, when Helen was seven years former. Only 14 years older than Helen, Anne was also visually impaired and just recently graduated from school.

Soon, Anne had taught Helen 'finger spelling', which allowed her to finally communicate with those around her.

To practise this, Anne gave Helen an object such as a doll and traced the word 'd-o-l-fifty' onto her palm.

At commencement Helen did non brand the connection between the letters on her palm and the objects. But the famous watershed moment came when Anne took Helen to the water pump outside and while spelling "west-a-t-due east-r" into Helen'south palm, let water run over the daughter's other hand.

Quickly, she stopped and touched the earth and demanded its letter of the alphabet name and past nightfall she had learned 30 words.

#iv. She called Mark Twain a best mate

Mark Twain as an older man

Surprising but true! Helen met Marking when she was merely xiv, when going to Cambridge School for Immature Ladies, and they stayed close friends until Mark's death 16 years subsequently.

Handily for Helen, Mark smoked 10 to 20 cigars a day, then she could hands recognise her friend from his odor.

When describing Marker in her autobiography, she wrote, "he treated me not as a freak, just equally a handicapped woman seeking a way to circumvent extraordinary difficulties."

#v. Helen was the very first person who was deaf and blind to graduate

Helen Keller wearing a graduation cap and robe

In 1900 Helen was accustomed into the famous Radcliff Higher in Cambridge (along with her loyal teacher Anne, who attended alongside her to help interpret lectures and texts).

It was during Helen'southward inferior yr here that she wrote her autobiography, 'The Story of My Life'.

By 1904, she had non merely written a book, only graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, becoming the starting time person who was deaf and blind to earn a college degree.

By the time she went to college, she had too mastered several ways to communicate, including reading by touching people's lips, braille, typing and finger spelling. She had also learned to speak, although she was ever unhappy with her voice equally it was difficult to understand.

#6. Helen was on the FBI's radar

Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan standing outside in warm coats

Helen was a true pioneer in her time, and for a adult female living in the early 20th century, she was very political and was seen to have some pretty radical ideas.

She went on to become a earth-famous writer and speaker, with a particular focus on speaking out for people with disabilities.

But she didn't cease there – she also focused on social and political issues, tackling a women'southward right to vote and use nascency control, and was avidly anti-war (something Marking Twain and Helen had in common). Helen also founded the American Ceremonious Liberties Union (ACLU).

She was fifty-fifty investigated by the FBI considering of her extreme left views.

#7. She was forbidden from marrying her fiancé

Helen Keller holding a flower

It'south middle-breaking and hard to understand, but in Helen'south day, lodge believed that women with disabilities shouldn't autumn in love or experience romance of whatever kind – let lonely get married.

Only when Helen was 36 she brutal deeply in dear with a man called Peter Fagan, an ex-newspaper reporter who was working as her secretarial assistant, and they were secretly engaged.

They fifty-fifty managed to get a union license earlier Helen'south family caught on and forbid them from going any further because of her disabilities.

Helen regretted never marrying, sadly maxim later "If I could come across, I would ally first of all."

#8. Helen'southward teacher died while holding her hand

Helen Heller sitting on Anne Sullivan's lap and giving her a hug

Helen remained close to her beloved teacher Anne for an incredible 49 years.

In 1936, Anne went into a coma after suffering with coronary thrombosis, and heartbreakingly, she died. Right up until the end Helen was there with her, and was belongings onto Helen's hand when she died.

Even to this day they're still by each other'southward side – with Helen's ashes existence placed next to Anne's in 1968, when she died peacefully in her sleep.

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Source: https://www.aruma.com.au/about-us/blog/8-incredible-facts-about-helen-keller/

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