Helen Keller, who was born healthy on June 27, 1880, suffered a fever at 18 months of age which left her blind and deaf. Her condition left her unruly and her parents considered having her institutionalized until they were referred to a Washington, D.C. doctor who had great success working with the deaf, both as a specialist and as a teacher. He also had personal experiences which fueled his passion, as both his mother and wife were deaf. He provided the first breakthrough for her, and through his efforts the family was put in touch with Anne Sullivan, who is well known today for the progress she made in teaching her.
But Helen Keller would always credit her doctor for many of her breakthroughs. They would go on to have a close friendship that spanned the rest of his lifetime, and they worked closely together within the deaf community helping others.
Her doctor was considered one of the best in the country at that time, although he was a little more known for other endeavors, such as inventing the telephone. The photo above is of Helen Keller and her childhood specialist, Dr. Alexander Graham Bell.