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Claudia Martinez, MD, a third-year resident at TIRR Memorial Hermann in Houston, always knew she wanted to become a physician.

Growing up, she envisioned being able to give back to small towns like the ones her parents were from. "I would see the disparity there not having access to medical care," she told MedPage Today.

However, about 10 years ago, during Martinez's senior year of college, her plans took a harrowing detour.

Martinez began having headaches as well as weakness in her arms and legs. An MRI of her brain led to a diagnosis of , a condition in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal.

The condition was pretty severe, Martinez explained. A neurosurgeon told her that if she didn't undergo immediate brain surgery, she could become paralyzed from the neck down.

On her first day of her senior year in college, Martinez underwent her first brain surgery.

She would need five more in the next few years to address ongoing health issues and complications. And during the sixth procedure, in 2017, she suffered a stroke.

Though Martinez, who attended McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, had been able to complete much of the education she needed to become a physician from her hospital bed, having a stroke and needing rehabilitation care changed her career trajectory.

Martinez had initially planned to go into a surgical field, she said. But the stroke diminished function in her hands.

"That was a little hard to accept," Martinez said.

She suffered other deficits, too, and ended up at TIRR Memorial Hermann, where she is now completing her residency through UTHealth, for a year of .

Martinez now credits the institution for inspiring a new passion.

"When I was here, I got to see what PM&R [physical medicine and rehabilitation] was all about," she said. "Once I was exposed to that, I really liked the attitude they had in seeing what patients could do instead of what they couldn't."

The physicians, therapists, and nurses take "all the broken pieces" after a patient has sustained a stroke, spinal cord injury, or car accident, "really putting them back together," she said.

"The big hospital saved their life, then they come to us and we restore their lives," she said.

Since then, she has gained back 90% of the function she lost.

Though Martinez said she doesn't always share her personal journey with patients, occasions arise that are well suited for that kind of support.

There may be a patient who is not motivated to do therapy, who has lost hope, she said.

"I remember sitting in that hospital bed not knowing what my future would look like," Martinez said.

Patients can feel alone, like there is no one else going through the same thing, and it can take a long time to get better, she said, noting that her stroke was 5 years ago and that she is still recovering function.

"When I have shared my story, I really do feel like that will make a difference," Martinez said.

Additionally, it's not only patients that Martinez is seeking to help.

Her residency program at TIRR Memorial Hermann has been incredibly supportive, she said, providing the necessary accommodations for her to succeed.

Residents with disabilities can be very successful, she said. They can still be a physician, and a good one at that.

She said she's all but settled on pursuing further training and a fellowship to become a specialist in spinal cord injuries.

Looking back on her journey, Martinez said she remembers asking her neurosurgeon whether she could put off her initial brain surgery, and the surgeon responded that, "'You can't take care of anyone else until you take care of yourself.'"

"We shouldn't necessarily change our goals," Martinez said, "sometimes it just takes a little different trajectory."

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