Contents
PROLOGUE
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE 11
Part One
TRAVERSING THROUGH TRAGEDY
CHAPTER 1
APRIL 24, 2008 17
CHAPTER 2
ER—UNSPEAKABLE TRAUMA 27
CHAPTER 3
“WE GOT HIM” 41
CHAPTER 4
LIFE IN VIETNAM 47
CHAPTER 5
ICU—DEAR GOD, WHY US? 57
CHAPTER 6
ESCAPE ON THE OPEN SEAS 67
CHAPTER 7
SO MANY LOSSES 73
CHAPTER 8
MIRACLES AT SEA 83
CHAPTER 9
SHE’S RESPONDING! 91
CHAPTER 10
ARRIVING ALIVE 101
CHAPTER 11
REHAB—A FIGHTING CHANCE 107
CHAPTER 12
ONWARD AND UPWARD 117
CHAPTER 13
PURGING THE BITTERNESS 125
CHAPTER 14
A LONG-AWAITED REUNION 135
CHAPTER 15
GRADUATION DREAMS 141
Part Two
COURAGE AND THE COMMITMENT TO LOVE
CHAPTER 16
THE BLOOMINGDALE LIBRARY ATTACK VICTIM COMES HOME 147
CHAPTER 17
A NEW NORMAL 157
CHAPTER 18
VIETNAM REVISITED 175
CHAPTER 19
HOLD MY HAND—I’LL WALK WITH YOU 185
CHAPTER 20
TIME FOR A CHANGE 191
CHAPTER 21
TRIALS, TESTIMONIES, AND QUESTIONS OF FORGIVENESS 199
CHAPTER 22
THE LOVE OF COMMUNITY 209
CHAPTER 23
A RAPIST SENTENCED 215
CHAPTER 24
FROM VICTIMS TO SURVIVORS 223
CHAPTER 25
THE BLOOMINGDALE LIBRARY SURVIVOR CLAIMS HER NAME 229
CHAPTER 26
TELLING QUEENA THE PAINFUL TRUTH 237
CHAPTER 27
MORE THAN SISTERS 245
CHAPTER 28
A RAPIST SENTENCED—AGAIN 255
EPILOGUE
A TREE OF VICTORY 269
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 277
ENDNOTES 283
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 287
