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