[Ouisch]

This is not a novel, but it has remained one of my favorite and most inspiring books since I was in high school (back before the wheel had been invented). It's called Karen and was written by Marie Killilea. Almost any library will have it, and you can order used copies cheap off Amazon. It's the story of a girl that was born in 1940 with cerebral palsy, which was largely unheard of at the time. The lengths the family went to to get her diagnosed and treated was truly inspiring (and believe me, it takes a lot to inspire my jaded soul). The family wasn't wealthy to begin with, and underwent additional financial sacrifice due to Karen's medical bills and physical therapy necessities. They worked within their means and built equipment when they couldn't afford to buy it. Mind you, the book never falls into the category of pathos or self-pity. It is all told in a very matter-of-fact, this is the problem, how can we solve it manner. I always keep their story in the back of my mind when I start getting lazy or griping about how difficult something is. It's a story that at the very least will make you count your various blessings.