In 1921, Franklin Roosevelt took his family sailing one day and he fell overboard into the chilly waters. The next day, a forest fire broke out. Franklin and his children helped to fight the forest fire and put it out. It was hard and tiring work. After the fire was out, Franklin was sick. It was polio. He could not move his legs. The doctors said he could never walk again.
Many men would have given up then. Franklin Roosevelt did not give up. He began to work to get well again. Even though he could not get out of bed, he did exercises, and his shoulders and arms grew very strong. At last the doctors let him out of bed, but he had to wear heavy metal braces on his legs. Then he went to Warm Springs, Georgia. He swam in the warm waters there. Even though it was painful to move his legs, he kept on swimming and exercising them. He grew better until he could leave the braces off. He could walk with only a cane to help him.
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself, "President Roosevelt told the people.