Former Sen. Ronda Storms Will Host a Fundraiser For Bloomingdale Library Attack Survivor

VALRICO, FL — Former Florida Sen. Ronda Storms, along with family and friends, will host "Autumn and Art," a silent auction to benefit Queena Vuong, the survivor of a brutal attack at the Bloomingdale Regional Library.

The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 13 from noon to 2 p.m. at Gather and Seek Vintique, 2609 State Road 60 E. in Valrico.

The event will include a signing of the book about Queena's life, "The Life She Once Knew: The Incredible True Story of Queena, the Bloomingdale Library Attack Survivor," written by her mother, Vanna Nguyen, following the brutal rape and beating of her daughter.

On April 24, 2008, two days after her 18th birthday, Queena was a high school senior, full of hope and possibilities as she looked forward to graduating and heading on to the University of Florida on a full academic scholarship.

That evening, she was in her car returning books to the library drop box when she was grabbed, raped, brutalized and left for dead.

The attack resulted in a traumatic brain injury that left Queena unable to walk, see or speak.

In the book, Nguyen, who endured her own journey to survive in her homeland during the Vietnam War, chronicles her daughter's battle to recover, her own struggles to provide her daughter with the therapy she needed to regain some mobility and speech, and her spiritual and emotional struggle in deciding whether to let go of her anger and forgive the man who left her daughter a shell of the woman she once was.

In the years since the attack, the family, including Queena's sister, Anna Donato, have faced more than their fair share of tragedy and pain, but have also experienced times of great joy and laughter, hope in the small improvements Queena has made, a renewed sense of hope following the birth of Anna's son, Giorgio, a year ago, and enduring love and faith, which has carried them through their darkest moments.

"We choose to be happy, no matter what's going on in our life," Donato said.

Donato has gone on to found the nonprofit, Hope Heals the Brain, to continue raising funds and awareness for families and individuals affected by traumatic brain injury.

When she decided to pull down the barriers of secrecy around the rape shield law and take her daughter's story public, Nguyen insisted that Queena never be referred to as a victim - she was a survivor.

The strength of both mother and daughter has inspired people around the world, among them Storms, a former Hillsborough County commissioner and state senator from Valrico, who took time away from politics to raise her two children.

Tampa Bay film producer Renee Warmack of Renee Warmack Productions refers to Vanna, Queena and Anna as "woman warriors," exhibiting a galvanizing strength of spirit.

Those unable to attend Saturday's event are encouraged to follow Queena's progress through her website, Join Queena.

"The Life She Once Knew" is available though these retailers:

• Amazon.com
• Booksamillion.com
• Barnesandnoble.com
• Christianbook.com
• Bookbub.com

To purchase an autographed copy, contact Nguyen at vannablue9@yahoo.com.