Karen Ann Killilea is the subject of two bestselling books by her mother Marie Killilea

Marie Killilea

Marie Lyons Killilea is the mother of Karen Killilea and an American author, activist, and lobbyist for the rights of people with cerebral palsy. Her work culminated in the formation of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Westchester County...

, Karen and With Love from Karen. These books were groundbreaking by asserting that children with cerebral palsy could lead productive lives.

Karen Killilea was born three months prematurely at a time when such babies rarely survived. As a result of her prematurity, she developed cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....

. After she was diagnosed, Karen's parents decided to raise her at home, contrary to the advice of doctors to commit her to an asylum

Psychiatric hospital

Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...

 and forget her.

After visiting at least 23 doctors, they found one in Baltimore, MD, who taught them to do physical therapy with Karen at home (then a radical concept).