Holly Uzzle and Mercedes Uzzle have both come to terms with cerebral palsy. (Photo: Kenice Mobley/Echo Staff Photographer)

N.C. Central University students Mercedes Uzzle and Holly Uzzle have two things in common: their last names (they are not related) and cerebral palsy.

“Cerebral” refers to the brain and “palsy” refers to a disorder of movement. The condition is characterized by difficulty and awkwardness in movement.

“I met Holly in the Worship and Praise Inspirational gospel choir,” said Mercedes, “and because I have [cerebral palsy] ... I knew she had it as well,”

About two people per thousand are affected with this non-progressive, non-contagious physical condition.

Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that refers to damage to the motor control centers of the developing brain. It can be caused by infection, malnutrition or head trauma during pregnancy, childbirth or infancy.

Ten thousand infants in the United States are diagnosed with cerebral palsy each year.

Some people mistakenly believe that people who have cerebral palsy are less intelligent then those who don’t have it. But the condition only affects the part of the brain that controls movement

Holly Uzzle, a business freshman, walks using a walker, but considers herself no different from any other student.

Holly’s parents found out that she had the condition as an infant, but even as a child, she always had a positive outlook.

“I knew I had problems within the first and second grade because I knew all these therapists would come see me and I would just figure it out,” Uzzle said.

“But it never really affected me. I was just like, ‘oh I’m going to see the doctor today, cool.’”

Holly said her sister, Kasey Graham, has been very supportive. “I helped her put on her braces and did her hair,” said Graham. “We were very close.”

Holly’s mother, Robin, said she was devastated when her daughter was diagnosed with the condition but was determined to help her daughter.

“Because my daughter had it, I wanted to find out more about it, so I went to school at Norwich Connecticut Technical School for nursing,” said Robin Uzzle.

“I wanted to find out more about cerebral palsy so that I could take care of my baby.”

For 10 years, Robin Uzzle worked with people with cerebral palsy.

She said the family believes that Holly will be completely healed of cerebral palsy in time.

“Our faith is in God — it’s a strong power in our life,” said Robin Uzzle.

Holly said many people don’t understand her condition.

“A lot of people stare ... because they don’t understand my condition. And some little kids ask, ‘How did you break your legs?’”

On the positive side, she has increased her mobility with a car with custom-made hand controls.

“Right now I’m on the road. I never thought I would be able to drive,” she said.

Mercedes Uzzle, who was born prematurely, says that when she was young she didn’t have the same positive outlook as Holly.

“I would ask, ‘Why did I have to get it and not my brother? Like, why me?’”

As a child, Mercedes had to walk with a walker and on her tip-toes because of problems with her hamstrings and heel cords.

There is no known cure for cerebral palsy, but physical therapy helps.

Symptoms include abnormal muscle tone, problems with reflexes, and a loss of motor and coordination skills.

Some 40 to 50 percent of premature babies are born with the condition. Early signs in infants may include irregular posture and spinal curvature

It is the second most expensive developmental disability, costing about $1 million to manage over the course of a lifetime.

One other thing that Holly Uzzle and Mercedes share is their determination not to let their condition be their conclusion.