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Leah Okner: My mom actually has severe rheumatoid arthritis and she was diagnosed when I was
about 3 years old.
And it was the '80s and the physicians told her to lay in bed. And so she laid in bed
and eventually became bedridden.
(Text on screen): American Council on Exercise PROfiles
Leah Okner, ACE Group Fitness Instructor, Athens, GA
Leah Okner: Growing up I didn't know anything was wrong with her.
Some of her hands are a little misshapen now because of the disease and I never knew the
difference, and until I started studying I didn't know how hard she was working to be
normal and to have a good quality of life.
And one day she said, "I've had enough." And she went to the local racket club and started
working with a personal trainer and they went in the pool and did aqua aerobics.
So she started doing that and she's fully mobile now. I mean she's up and walking.
So, I'll never forget the time my mom came to see me when, I think I was an undergrad
at the time; I was at the University of Illinois still.
And we were waiting to cross the street and a car went by and then the street was empty.
And she looked at me and she goes, "Leah, look what I can do. Look what I can do."
And she started this like slow, ridiculous-looking shuffle trot, but it was just incredible.
It was her version of running.
She's like, "Look, I'm running. I'm running!"
I mean, she just looked like a little kid again. She was so excited and smiling.
And it was just an amazing thing to see.
And I think that's part of the reason I'm so passionate about what I do and so passionate
about helping others.
I know what a big influence that trainer had in our lives.
You know, our quality of life changed dramatically as soon as my mom started exercising.
(Text on screen): ACE: American Council on Exercise