From the time I was a little, and it was just my mom and me, my mother has always been my hero. She has shown me what it was to be an independent woman, to fight for what I believe in and to strive for my personal best no matter what life throws at me. My mother has been there for me throughout my life and has always been a guiding light in my hard times. She has helped me stay on track and supported me even when I stumbled.

Being a parent now I can only fully understand how hard I made that for her in my early years’ but her support and love never wavered. My mother has never stopped showing her support and love for those around her, not even when she was in the middle of her own battle with cancer.

Amazingly, and against my sister and I’s suggestions, our mother was up the day after surgery working at her stand-up desk, she never let her cancer diagnosis slow her down or interrupt her life more than necessary.

My mom’s dedication to her friends and clients is something that inspires me to be better in everything I do. Now I am blessed with the opportunity to live near her again and I thank God every day for that chance. She truly shows me how important it is to live every day to the fullest, to love, laugh and put 100% into everything you do.

Danielle Resnick RN
Brighton CO – 2020

When I was 4 years old, my mother quizzed me on muscle groups while in the bathtub.
When I was 8 years old, I sat in the corner of aerobics studios rather than being babysat.
When I was 15 years old, I attended my mother's graduate courses.
When I was 18 years old, I obtained my first group fitness certification and enrolled in the Kinesiology major at SDSU.

I am now a professor in the Kinesiology Department at California State University, Long Beach and owe my passion and enjoyment for the health and fitness industry to my mother. My mother is the most driven and intelligent woman I know, and I truly admire her tenacity and dedication to her clients and this field. I am so thankful to have been raised by such a beautiful and inspirational woman. She made what so many people find to be a chore...fun. I love to be active and I enjoy eating healthy, all because that is how I was raised.

In the summer of 2017, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Throughout this process, she has handled everything with poise, from confusing lab reports to overwhelming doctor’s visits. When she met with the surgeon, her first question was "can I wait until after the IDEA Fitness Convention"? Only my mother would prioritize a fitness convention over a major surgery.

The day after her surgery, she was up at 6:30 am working as if nothing happened. She went grocery shopping, went to the movies, got her nails done, and mowed the lawn...all while still having her drains attached. My mom's nurse navigator said she has never seen anyone heal as quickly as my mom.  Without a doubt, one of the reasons my mom has healed so quickly is because of how healthy she was going into surgery. If that's not a reason to love your body and treat it right, I'm not sure what is.

To say I am proud of my mom is an understatement. I have always admired her strength but now I have a new level of respect for her. She is my real-life Wonder Woman.

Dr. Kellie Walters, PhD
Long Beach CA - 2020