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Vanna Nguyen is a refugee from South Vietnam and the mother of the Bloomingdale Library Attack Survivor, Queena. She devotes her life to Queena’s full-time care and advocates for special needs and justice for victims of domestic, sexual, and physical abuse. She lives in Florida with her partner, Robert; Queena; and her two Shih Tzu dogs, Charlie and Princess. Her other daughter, Anna, lives nearby with her husband, Jonathan.
Vanna’s wish is that this book’s proceeds can support ongoing expenses through Hope Heals the Brain, Inc. and Queena’s Medical Trust Fund. If you would like to make a donation to help Queena, please visit www.joinqueena.com/donate.
Reviewed by Maria Rosanna Abad for Readers' Favorite
The Life She Once Knew by Vanna Nguyen is a powerfully moving and inspirational story of tragedy, healing, and survival. It is the true story of the Bloomingdale Library attack survivor as told by her mother Vanna who vividly recounts how one unforeseen act of evil on April 24, 2008, shattered their normal happy lives as Vietnamese immigrants in America. This horrific incident left her kind, beautiful, and intelligent 18-year-old daughter Queena blind, paralyzed, and unable to speak after suffering a traumatic brain injury. It also left her and her other daughter Anna anxious and despondent in realizing that the life they once knew as a family was forever changed. Vanna describes her book as a “remarkable journey of survival” which offers hope. Her story continues to encourage many people to remain faithful and steadfast amid life’s adversities.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Life She Once Knew by Vanna Nguyen from start to finish. It is very well written, fast-paced, and deliberate in presenting each setback, as well as each uplifting milestone in Vanna and Queena’s healing journey. I also found the juxtaposition between Vanna’s anxieties over Queena’s condition and her childhood trauma in escaping the horrors of the Vietnam War brilliant and on point. The transition between the two parallel stories within the chapters was flawless and made me connect more to Vanna’s struggles in caring for her equally brave daughter. It was amazing storytelling that could be easily converted into an award-winning movie or documentary. Calling Hallmark Channel or Netflix…
