ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For 12-year-old Isaac Hamilton, intensive therapy is part of his world with cerebral palsy.

“He sustained a birth injury,” said Isaac’s dad, Nick Hamilton. “So it’s what we call a hypoxic event where basically his brain wasn’t getting an adequate amount of oxygen for a prolonged period. So he ended up with severe brain damage.”

For Nick, loving and supporting his son was not enough. So he changed career direction and became a physical therapist assistant.

Now working at the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Child Development and Rehabilitation Center, Nick got to work with his son for years as well as other courageous youngsters.

“It’s a lot to ask of these kids,” said Nick. “I mean, if I were to ask any adults in this room to do what these kids do in three weeks, you’d be crying 30 minutes in and begging for your mom.”

But the soon-to-be-teenager Isaac has recently laid down the law to dad.

“Isaac has decided in this point in his life that I’m not allowed in his therapy sessions, and with everything I ask him to do, I must respect that,” laughed Nick.

On the day we visited, Nick was spending time with 15-year-old Luis while Isaac was getting the best of care from physical therapist Rochelle and student assistant Brinsy.

For Nick Hamilton, Isaac is always on his mind and in his heart.

“He’s my inspiration for life really,” said Nick. “I mean there’s not a thing I do in my day that doesn’t involve him being the center of it.”