Franklin D.Roosevelt’s active and intelligent mind helped him to get through the worst periods of his illness. He was always curious about every detail of the various treatments given to him. As soon as he could sit up he worked on his stamp collection, and he began to write a history of the United States and a book about John Paul Jones, a navy hero.
He was ready to try anything that might help him get well. A member of his family has written that Roosevelt got a great deal of exercise later by crawling around on the floor. Although he was over forty years of age then, he spent many hours crawling around on the floor of his library like a child.
Next he decided to learned how to go up the stairs by himself. Day after day he would pull himself up the stairs by the strength of his hands and arms. While doing this, he insisted that his family and friends watch him and talk with him. He wanted to give the impression that what he was doing an everyday regular activity.