We recently connected with Kristine “Kim” Phansaithong and have shared our conversation below.

Kristine “Kim”, appreciate you joining us today. Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. Other times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed.

I wouldn’t say it’s by choice I chose this to happen, but it definitely had me questioning a lot about who I was and how in the blink of an eye, our lives had changed.
I had a massive stroke in 2012 when I was 31y/o.
I was an RN from NY, my husband in the Air Force and 3 girls ages 2,4, and 6 at the time.
We lived in Honolulu, Hawaii for 6 years prior to moving to Maryland. In a year’s time of relocating, my life…our lives turned upside down.
I had an ischemic stroke affecting my whole right cerebellum, partial frontal, temporal, occipital and brain stem. It was massive stroke that I required a crainectomy.
Spent 2 months as inpatient, then 2 months in house patient,, then almost 5 years of in/out patient rehabilitation of speech, Occupational and Physical therapy with countless doctor appointments.
It was 3 years after my stroke that I was told by a rehab specialist that there’s not much in terms I can do occupational wise, Maybe file-even that would be a bit too much for me, he said.
That lit a fire in me, that I wanted to become more than I was and not defined by my disability.
Fast forward years later, I’m my own business owner of Phoenix Waves LLC . I am a personal coach/trainer helping those post injury, mobility and imbalances, athletes of all levels and re-establishing my RN license in Hawaii next year where I currently live.

Kristine “Kim”, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Kristine Phansaithong, everyone knows me as Kim (Kimberly my middle name).
I was an RN for almost a decade from 2002-2011. I’m currently a certified personal trainer through my own business Phoenix Waves LLC for almost 8 years and pursuing my RN license again in Hawaii.

Cliche as it sounds, I was always a more hands on wanting to help others type of person.
Little did I know, that my biggest challenge became my greatest strength.
I was given a great obstacle to face and a personal defeat that I felt at the time of my stroke. I became that “disabled” person -I longed to be so much more… was more than capable, but didn’t know how to become more than my disability.

With my husband active duty in the Air Force, our 3 girls, 2 dogs and I were stationed and relocated to Maryland from Hawaii.
I applied for my RN license to practice in Maryland only to wake up in the Brain Recovery Unit. The road ahead lied a lot of confusion, pain and anger, re-learning and realization of my own capabilities.
I remember fondly doing rehab exercises when my husband mentioned to me to become a personal trainer for post injury clients when I’m better.
I remembered laughing and telling him that I barely can walk, yet stand up without leaning on something. I was reminded each and everyday of what I wasn’t able to do.
At that time, I felt deeply depressed and defeated. Simple daily activities became a challenge for me. I was bathed, groomed and dressed by my husband, My family took turns feeding me, walking with me. It even became a nightly ritual from my daughter’s reading to me and I learned how to write again. It wasn’t legible at all, but I kept on at it. It was a big transition, a big learning curve -all these things became our new norm.
Three years after my stroke, my husband brought me to our local gym. Our community had a trainer, Efrain Larenas. He worked with clients in and outside the community. I remember watching him as he interacted with clients and others. He spoke genuinely and human- I say this because I believed at the time that all personal trainers were self consumed with themselves and just cared about physically looking good.
Months passed and I watched him as he trained and conversed. I finally got the nerve to speak to him. My first session was May 2015.
Fast forward to 2018, I became a certified personal trainer through NASM.
Within my 8 year journey, I’m certified in countless TRX practices, autism fitness. Licensed RN in NY and currently studying to be licensed in IASTM (Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization) and reinstating my RN license in Hawaii hopefully by next year.
I bring everything that I learned as a nurse, patient and personal trainer and provide that sense of purpose and confidence while still providing the feedback and guidance we all need. I’ve lived and experienced what it’s like to be on the other end. No filters, no upper hand, just hard work and especially not giving up or giving in. I see the person and meet them where they’re at and build on from there.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I developed a type A personality after high school where I had a guideline of completing things in my life.
School, graduating, becoming a RN, when I was going to marry, how many kids…it was all a mental note of when I wanted it to be completed.
All was done by the age of 29. Married at 24, seven years as an RN, 3 girls (2 years apart)…life was going as planned.
That all changed when I had a massive stroke at 31.
Life put on its breaks and time went to a screeching halt . This wasn’t part of my plan. My husband didn’t plan for this, my girls never asked for this, we all didn’t want this, but later it’s this stroke that became my driving force.
At the time I was dealt with cards that I didn’t want, but my life wouldn’t be what it is now without them.
I’m not going to cure all ailments and reverse what’s already happened, but I continue to show up and give 150% to my family, friends, and clients. I didn’t get this second chance for nothing. My clients know I never say never, its WHEN.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn that conforming to lists is good for some things, but not everything-like life.
I had a massive stroke at 31 at the height of my career; when everything I thought was supposed to be smooth sailing.
So much of what life threw at me molded and changed me. It made me realize that you can have plans, but all can be changed in a blink of an eye. It still challenges me til today, but I never take anything for granted.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://phoenixwavesllc.com
• Instagram: elz27, phoenix_waves_llc
• Other: Email- [email protected]

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