When Amanda was a year old, her parents realized that there was something wrong with her. Not only had she not started walking yet, but she could neither sit up straight nor stand. And when she crawled, she pulled herself along with her hands. Amanda's doctor agreed that she was not developing at a normal rate. After examining her and administering a number of tests, the doctor diagnosed her with cerebral palsy. Amanda explains how the diagnosis affected her parents: .

Although there'd been problems at my birth, they never expected. I'd wind up with cerebral palsy [CP]. The worst part was that they didn't know what to expect, and no one could give them answers. They didn't know if I'd ever be able to walk, or use my arms, or talk. They didn't know if I'd ever be able to become an...