Never Ever Give Up Hope

At 13 years old Sandra Schnakenburg was hit by a car traveling 100 mph while riding her bike. In addition to having her face reconstructed, she suffered a traumatic brain injury long before such injuries were widely understood. Her parents struggled to cope with her forgetfulness and memory loss, and they gave up trying. Thus began her 10-year struggle with bulimia, which shaped her in profound ways and deepened her appreciation for resilience and healing. Sandra Schnakenburg, a dual American/Australian citizen, holds a BS in Finance and International Business from Arizona State University and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from USC. After leaving a corporate finance career in 2010, she pursued creative nonfiction through courses at Writespace, Rice University, and The Writers University.    From an early age, Sandra envisioned herself leading an amazing life, even during the darkest times. Every day she consciously chose to have a good attitude and looked for the positive, even in painful situations—as