With Love from Karen

The Killilea family returns in the heartwarming sequel to national bestseller Karen

With Love from Karen picks up five years after the conclusion of Karen, the miraculous and true story of a girl with cerebral palsy who triumphed against all odds. It follows the Killileas through Karen’s teen years and into adulthood. Karen and her family continue to face seemingly insurmountable obstacles: They must fight for Karen’s right to attend public school, support Karen in her dream to raise and exhibit champion show dogs, and encourage her in her decision to use a wheelchair or walk on her own.
Once again, the Killilea family proves that the power of faith, love, and courage in the face of adversity can make miracles happen.

Marie Killilea is the author of two bestselling books, Karen and With Love from Karen. In 1940, Marie’s daughter Karen was born three months premature, measuring only nine inches and weighing less than two pounds. It would take years for doctors to diagnose her with cerebral palsy, and even more to find proper treatment. When the family was told that they should put her in an asylum and forget about her, which was what many others did at the time, they refused and instead took on the daunting challenge of treating her at home. Confined to a wheelchair since her teens, Karen learned to walk with crutches, write, and even swim, after years of painstaking work. She later became a receptionist at the Trinity Retreat House in Larchmont, New York, where she worked for almost forty years. Marie died in 1991, followed by her husband two years later. Karen resides in an accessible apartment in Larchmont, living a happy life, continuing to be an inspiration to all around her.