I was chatting with Gypsy and Kellyn1604 this evening. We think it could be Pollyanna (played by a young Hayley Mills). It is a Disney movie. She was a young orphan who suffered many challenges but still looked at the brighter side of things until her car accident. She lost the use of her legs. She eventually overcame her fear and sadness, was an inspiration to everyone and eventually learned to walk again. They do say “crippling fear” in the casting call. Hayley Mills was a wee “lass” and the British darling of the world throughout the 60’s.
A close contender would Mary McDhui from The Three Lives of Thomasina, another Disney movie. This was about a young Scottish (lass) named Mary (played by the same little girl who starred in Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) whose cat, Thomasina had died. Because her father (a vet) failed to save her cat, she withdraws from the world until Thomasina eventually returns, having been nursed back to life by a good witch named Lori. So we have an element of magic with this story.
Keeper of Pandora's Box & The Yellow Brick Road.