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In this photo made Monday, April 29, 2013, Dr. Jan Brunstrom-Hernandez, left, works with cerebral palsy patient Sam Ward, 15, at St. Louis Children's Hospital in St. Louis. Brunstrom-Hernandez, who founded the Cerebral Palsy Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital 15 years ago, has cerebral palsy, giving her a special empathy for the people she treats.

"We know it's not fair, but that's the way it is," Brunstrom-Hernandez tells 15-year-old patient Sam Ward. "Do you hear me? I know what I'm talking about."

Brunstrom-Hernandez, who founded the Cerebral Palsy Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital 15 years ago, has cerebral palsy, giving her a special empathy for the people she treats.

Cerebral palsy is a broad diagnostic term referring to disorders that affect movement and posture. It is caused by injury or abnormal development of the brain, usually before birth. Many patients suffer from other afflictions, too, such as speech or hearing difficulties. Symptoms vary greatly.

Brunstrom-Hernandez, 50, was surrounded by doctors from a young age as she coped with the disorder. She figures that's a big reason she knew as a small girl she wanted to be a doctor. Still, she initially balked at specializing in treating others with cerebral palsy.

"I didn't want to be surrounded by more of me," she said. "I didn't feel good about myself because of my disability."

A chat in 1997 with Dr. Mike Noetzel at St. Louis Children's Hospital changed all that. At the time, Brunstrom-Hernandez was doing research on cerebral palsy and was surprised to learn treatment hadn't progressed much beyond

"All I said was, 'You've got some good ideas. I think people would listen to you. Let's at least try to start something,'" he recalled.

The clinic opened in May 1998.

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