About Me

Life lessons can be discovered in the least likely places during the most unexpected times if you’re only open to receive them.

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The girl so nice—they named her twice.

My first name is Kim Lisa. Not Kim. Not Lisa. Kim Lisa. I make this distinction upfront because it’s been my experience that when I first introduce myself to someone, they usually screw up my name. Like 93.2% of the time. But I digress…

Like everyone else on this planet, my perspective is shaped by my personal life experiences, upbringing, and cultural background…I’m a half Vietnamese / half Polish [insert joke here] first generation American who was raised by a single mother. I’m originally from the East Coast but now live in the Midwest, which means I’ve managed to blend the art of being very direct with a dose of civility. I’m the very proud mom to a teenage son and a happily married wife of over 20 years. Oh, and I’m also living with a neuromuscular disease.

Around the age of 30, I received an earth-shattering diagnosis of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD) after exhibiting some continued weakness in my arms and legs. This news came as a complete shock because, while I had never been all that coordinated growing up, I had still led an active and independent life. As you can imagine, this was devastating news. All I could envision was a future where I would just be a burden to my family, unable to do anything for myself.

Having a chronic and debilitating disease is completely life-changing, not just physically but also mentally. With each passing year, you discover that there is one less thing you are able to do as well as you could before. Or that the distance you can cover without feeling like your legs will give out has become a little bit shorter. And so, you find yourself undergoing the grieving process over and over again with each new loss of ability.

But believe it or not, there have been some positives to all of this. Dealing with this disease has made me more resourceful and resilient. It’s taught me how to ask others for help—something I rarely did when I was younger as I thought that doing so was a sign of personal failure. Grappling with this has instilled within me a sense of humility and gratitude and the willingness to embrace vulnerability. (Brene Brown would be so proud.) It’s also opened my eyes to the myriad of different challenges that others have to face. 

I wouldn’t wish this situation on anyone, but it does make me who I am—the girl so nice they named her twice.