If I consider Marie Killilea's true story about her daughter Karen's struggle with a severe form of cerebral palsy simply on the basis of how I personally feel with regard to my emotions (how the account has affected and continues to affect my heart and soul), Karen is most definitely a shining and glowing five star book. * She died on Octoat the age of 78 of respiratory ailments.At the time of her death she was survived by her husband, Jimmy (who died a few years later at the age of 80) and four children: Marie Irish, Karen Killilea, Kristin Viltz, and Rory Killilea. Killilea received letters from all over the world, and she once estimated she answered 15,000 or more. Her books, totaling 4 million copies, have been published in 11 languages. * 'Karen' won a Christopher Award and was one of the 30 Notable Books of 1953. A sequel, 'With Love From Karen,' was published in 1963 and it is still in print. * She wrote a novel, 'Karen,' which became a best seller in 1952 and has never been out of print. Later, she was a co-founder of the National United Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Her work culminated in the formation of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Westchester County. * She was an active lobbyist in Albany for the rights of cerebral palsy patients.

* Married James Killilea on July 25, 1933.

Attended the Katherine Gibbs Secretarial School. * Her father was a sportswriter for the New York Sun and later became co-owner of a Wall Street brokerage firm. * Marie Lyons Killilea was born Jin New York City to Tom and Marie Powers Lyons. Founder of the Cerebral Palsy Association.

Karen killilea book