It would be impossible to acknowledge the perseverance and dedication of Hellen Keller without also admiring the work of her teacher, Anne Sullivan. Anne began as a teacher for Hellen, teaching her vocabulary, math, and braille through the contact of their palms. Hellen and Anne shared an incredible bond, as Anne was not only a teacher, but a light in the life of someone in a dense, unintelligible darkness; she was not only there for a student, she was there for a friend. She stayed with Helen in a powerful relationship of trust and friendship for 49 years, until she passed away in bed in 1936, with her lifelong friend holding her hand.