The Miracle of Communication

Even though she could not read, speak, or talk, Helen Keller could communicate like any other toddler—until she was 19 months old. That's when a devastating fever sealed her in a dark, soundless world devoid of human communication. She might have remained in that world were it not for the "miracle worker," her teacher, Annie Sullivan.

Annie spent several weeks spelling words into Helen's hand. Helen quickly learned to make the letters, but she did not know what they were or what they meant. She didn't know that letters made words, or even what words were. One day, however, Annie held one of Helen's hands under a water pump and spelled out the word "water" into her other hand. Suddenly, Helen understood that the letters stood for the name of the liquid she felt on her skin. She had learned to connect objects with words.

In 1904, Helen Keller became the first blind-deaf person to graduate from college. She went on to become an author, a champion of women's rights, and a crusader for the underprivileged and handicapped. She brought hope and courage to millions around the world, with astounding wisdom and optimism:

I am only one; but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do.

It is for us to pray not for tasks equal to our powers, but for powers equal to our tasks, to go forward with a great desire forever beating at the door of our hearts as we travel towards our distant goal.

Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.

All this, and so much more, from the woman most people thought could never learn to communicate.