Ilchi Lee believes that health is dictated not just by a person's physical condition, but also by their mental and spiritual states. The whole body is connected on many different levels, and this highlights the unique importance of holistic health.
The 1993 novel Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick, which is read in many classrooms across the country, shows the power of healing through friendship. It details the journey of a slow-witted but kind-hearted boy, Max, and an intelligent boy, Kevin, who is crippled for life by Morquio syndrome.
Together, they form a team they call Freak the Mighty and have a number of adventures that eventually lead them to both discover a little more about themselves. This is especially the case of Max, who is terrified to turn into his father, a well-known convict who is in jail at the opening of the book.
The popular book was turned into a film named The Mighty and released in 1998.
"Philbrick's novel is wonderfully humanistic; there's just something so reassuring in the human race about the thought of the giant Max walking with the enthusiastic three-and-a-half foot Kevin hoisted onto his shoulders," writes one Amazon reviewer. "Young readers will fall in love with 'Freak the Mighty' for its realistic portrayal of a teenager, while adults will undoubtedly savor its humane touch."
