Never Give Up Book

RUTHE ROSEN endured the unimaginable and then chose to turn her pain into purpose. One moment her active, vibrant fourteen-year-old daughter, Karla, was preparing for a dance competition; the next, she was in the hospital, where Ruthe and her family would learn that Karla had an inoperable brain tumor, and that even with treatment she was unlikely to live a year.

Ruthe never gave up on the possibility of a miracle, and it came—not in the way she’d hoped, but in a way that no one could have predicted. As Karla’s illness progressed, so did her certainty that it was part of a plan much larger than her own future denied. It was as if something had taken hold of Karla’s heart and mind, infusing her with a grace, dignity, and spiritual self-possession that not only enabled her to transcend fear, but also inspired courage in everyone around her. Despite her suffering, Karla remained focused on the outpouring of kindness and support from family, friends, community members, and the many strangers who reached out to help the remarkable girl who refused to be anything but grateful.

So began the journey that has defined Ruthe Rosen’s crusade and transformed her daughter’s legacy into a commitment to help others. The mission of the Let It Be Foundation is to provide support and services to families of children with life-threatening medical conditions, help them avoid centering their existence on a disease, and focus instead on the positives that can come out of it. The foundation has brought hope and comfort to families throughout Southern California.