FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Anna Vuong – sister, (813) 956-3822, avvuong@gmail.com
Vanna Nguyen – mom, (813) 751-5745, vannablue9@yahoo.com
Bloomingdale Library Survivor Has Much to Celebrate
Family and friends will gather on April 20 for her 23rd birthday party
(BRANDON, FL – 04/17/13) Most days, she is hard at work, with a look of sheer determination on her face as she perseveres in accomplishing her next goal. Her mother smiles as she stands with the assistance of physical therapists, and marvels at how far her daughter has come.
On Saturday, April 20, family and friends will gather with the Survivor for her 23rd birthday celebration. The event will be held from 1:00-5:00 pm at Keel & Curley Winery, 5210 West Thonotosassa Road, Plant City 33565. The birthday party is sure to offer a few surprises, including the unveiling of her identity and a brand new website. A prayer vigil will begin at 2:00 followed by a special surprise for the crowd from the Survivor that you won’t want to miss!
The Survivor’s name is Queena and shehas made the brave decision to share her personal journey with the public. She wants the world to know her side of the story and follow her remarkable progress as she continues her recovery.
This April marks the five-year anniversary of the life-changing event for Queena; the young woman that the community has come to know as the Bloomingdale Library Survivor. While much has changed since that terrible night in 2008, her warmth, determination and ability to connect with others has remained strong, as the young woman has worked tirelessly with the assistance of her family to regain a sense of normalcy in her life.
“The month of April is not overshadowed by tragedy for us,” explains the Survivor’s mother. “Instead, we look at this as a time of celebration and a time of thanks for all that she has accomplished and those who have helped her to get here.”
JoinQueena.com is a new website that documents Queena’s journey to regaining her life through therapy, faith and love, as well as updates on her most recent treatments, therapies and never before revealed details of her daily life.
Medicaid covers only $1,500 per year of the Survivor’s physical therapy and speech therapy, while nearly $70,000 is required annually for all of treatments that have helped her make such progress. These additional expenses are funded through the generosity of the community. Donations to the Bloomingdale Library Survivor can be made payable to the Bloomingdale Library Assault Victim Trust at any Bank of Tampa or SunTrust Bank.
About the Bloomingdale Library Attack Survivor:
In April 2008, the young woman, formerly known at the Bloomingdale Library Attack Victim, was brutally raped, beaten and left to die outside of the Bloomingdale Library in Brandon, Florida. Equipped with an incredible will to survive, she did not die that night, and has spent the last five years working hard to recover from the brutal attack. She was about to graduate from high school and continue her education on a full scholarship to the University of Florida, but on that night, her life changed in an instant. The young woman cannot walk, talk, see or eat on her own, but she is making improvements. She communicates through widening her eyes, smiling and clenching her fists. She requires around-the-clock care and attends daily physical, occupational and experimental therapies to aid her recovery. The recovery process is slow, but very noticeable, as she slowly makes strides toward regaining her own normalcy every day.
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