When my once-robust eight-year-old daughter suddenly experienced nausea and dizziness, she was admitted to the intensive care unit and diagnosed with a rare neurologic autoimmune disease. I felt completely lost and panicked. As a physician, I believed I should have the knowledge to help, yet I couldn’t save her from this terrifying illness.
As she lay there, weak and nearly lifeless, having lost 20 pounds from her tiny frame and struggling to breathe in the ICU, I felt utterly powerless. My world became small and dark; I felt trapped and had no idea how to move forward.
Thankfully, after weeks of battling aspiration pneumonia, my girl was eventually discharged from the hospital. But it wasn’t the joyous homecoming we had envisioned. She came home in a wheelchair, unable to eat solid foods, hold a pencil, or even bathe herself. Conversations were a challenge due to her fatigue, poor memory, and cognitive changes.
The global brain inflammation she suffered meant a long road of rehabilitation ahead, but it was unclear how much she would truly recover. Would she be able to eat or bathe on her own? Would her memory fully recover? Could she return to school? Would she be able to do the things she loved like playing lacrosse or swimming again?
Here's my story of the curveball that nearly destroyed our lives
I work with parents, caregivers, and professionals who find themselves navigating life-altering disruption, a child's diagnosis, chronic illness, or a personal health crisis. These moment shake the foundation of who we are and how we show up in the world.
As a physician, rare disease mom, and certified coach, I guide my clients to move through chaos with clarity, reclaim their agency, and lead themselves and others forward with purpose. Whether you're managing care, balancing responsibilities, or simply trying to breathe again, I help you turn survival mode into a meaningful new chapter.
Life and Healthcare Coach, Speaker
I'm Maggie.
features and training
I'm Maggie Kang, MD —
physician mom of a child with a rare disease turned certified life and healthcare coach.
After experiencing a period of anxiety and despair when my daughter became sick, I sought help from a life coach. Through coaching I learned that while the diagnosis was a significant part of our lives, it did not have to define us. I could choose how to respond to it.
Through this journey, I changed the trajectory of my life. I learned how to create a richly abundant life despite the circumstances. I shared those lessons with my daughter and family, as we rebuilt our lives together. Though the process was gradual, we learned to survive and eventually thrive, finding joy and connection in our everyday moments.
With my unique insight into the complexities of the health care system (and commitment to my daughter whose medical bills could have amounted to over $30,000/month), I figured out effective processes to help my many clients get the best care possible, while reducing what could have been financially-crippling medical bills.
More of my Journey
I decided to hire a life coach because I realized that my anxiety was impacting my daughter’s health and well-being. She shared that witnessing my distress filled her with such guilt that she struggled to eat and sleep well.
This realization prompted me to take action — I couldn't be the cause of her worsening health.
After working with a coach, I started to feel lighter, more energetic, and hopeful. I even noticed a significant improvement in my sleep. Yet, it was one specific experience that truly highlighted the transformative power of coaching for me.
The best affirmation occurred when my daughter said to me:
"Mom, you seem so much happier and I feel more relaxed around you."
I decided to hire a life coach because I realized that my anxiety was impacting my daughter’s health and well-being. She shared that witnessing my distress filled her with such guilt that she struggled to eat and sleep well.
This realization prompted me to take action —
I couldn't be the cause of her
worsening health.
After working with a coach, I started to feel lighter, more energetic, and hopeful. I even noticed a significant improvement in my sleep. Yet, it was one specific experience that truly highlighted the transformative power of coaching for me.
Why I Hired a Life Coach
What's up with the name
"Lobster mindset newsletter"??
The name "Lobster Mindset" reflects our experiences as we navigate uncertainty, vulnerability, and unexpected challenges in life.
The lobster's molting process—shedding its old shell to grow—serves as a powerful metaphor for how embracing vulnerability can lead to personal growth.
When we, as mothers, learn of a child's or loved one's diagnosis, we often feel like lobsters shedding their shells—exposed, vulnerable, and scared. This emotional rawness mirrors the defenseless state of lobsters during molting, which is essential for growth.
My hope is that thinking of ourselves as lobsters brings a sense of lightness to our perspective and inspires us to view this time as an opportunity to develop our strengths and insights. Just as lobsters grow more resilient in their new shells, we too emerge stronger and better equipped to support our loved ones.
That's why I named my newsletter "Lobster Mindset Newsletter."
Education, Training, Certifications
Yale New Haven Hospital, Diagnostic Radiology Residency, Board certified
Yale New Haven Hospital, medical internship
Medical College of Virginia, MD
Cornell University, BA
Take a peek at my
Yale University Certification
The Science of Well-Being for Teens
April, 2023
Yale University Certification
The Science of Well-Being for Teens
April, 2023
Working together:
Private 1:1 Coaching
If you're ready to to take control of your narrative and rebuild your life, I invite you to begin your journey here.
Let's work together.
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I changed the trajectory of my life using coaching tools. I can help you do the same. If you're ready to initiate real change in your life, pick a date and time to meet me on a free Zoom consultation.
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Enter your email here, and I'll share the answer in my PDF,
"The Most Important Thing To Do After Your Child's Diagnosis".
c) Prioritize your emotional and mental well-being
b) Make sure your child is protected from knowing anything until you figure it all out
a) Research everything about your child's disease
What's the most important thing to do in the wake of your child's diagnosis?
A gift to get you started
Turning a Struggle Into Your Superpower
When I think about my daughter’s diagnosis, an incurable autoimmune disease, which requires monthly infusions, I often feel sad. She misses school for her treatments, fatigues easily and can no longer play travel lacrosse.
But I know that her struggles have made her more empathic and resilient . . .
When my daughter returned home from her hospitalization, this eight-year-old girl faced the challenge of re-learning how to walk, talk, and eat. To process her emotions and aid her healing, she began writing in a nightly journal. This practice not only helped her cope but also inspired her to turn her journal entries into a published book titled "My Hospital Story," aimed at helping other patients.
Her book became an educational part of the pediatric residency program at Children's National Hospital, with all proceeds supporting the hospital’s initiatives.
This remarkable example demonstrates how she transformed her illness into a superpower—the ability to connect with patients and healthcare workers while raising awareness about her rare disease. Her book shows that receiving a diagnosis is not a limitation but rather an opportunity to discover one’s unique strengths.
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create your best narrative.
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Enter your email here, and I’ll share the answer in a PDF "The Most Important Thing To Do After Your Child's Diagnosis."
c) Prioritize your emotional and mental well-being
b) Make sure your child is protected from knowing anything until you figure it all out.
a) Research everything about your child's disease