Victoria, Still Becoming

For anyone whose world has been turned upside down by a sudden trauma.

Everything I took for granted was suddenly lost.

I grew up fiercely independent. I loved outdoor adventures and athletics. My adoptive parents taught me I could do anything I put my mind to. Then came the snap. In a single second, my entire world turned upside down.

I went from being an active mother with a thriving career to someone who had to depend on others for the simplest things. The physical freedom I knew was gone. I had to learn how to live all over again.

I wrote this book because I know what it feels like to have the ground pulled out from under you. I do not claim to have all the answers. But I have learned the importance of holding onto faith, finding another way, and never giving up.

Major trauma changes the landscape of your life. It forces you to question what you believe about yourself and your purpose. The independence you always relied on is suddenly replaced by a heavy reliance on others.

This is the reality of losing physical freedom. You have to face the grief of what was lost before you can build what comes next. You have to become your own best advocate.

If a single moment has altered your entire world, you are not alone. There is a path forward through the grief. You can find the strength to keep moving forward and discover a new way to live.

A guide for finding your way back

This is an honest look at the messy and painful process of rebuilding a life. It strips away the platitudes about trauma and deals directly with the daily reality of disability and dependence.

You will see how early lessons in resilience can become survival tools. It is a practical and spiritual reminder that you can question everything you thought was possible and still find hope on the other side.

The Elements of Faith

This book traces the threads that help you rebuild after everything changes.

Freedom

Reconciling the grief of losing physical independence.

Advocacy

Learning to speak up and become your own best defender.

Identity

Discovering who you are when the old you is suddenly gone.

Trauma

Navigating the raw reality of life after the ground shifts.

Hope

Finding the strength to keep moving forward and never give up.

What you will find in this memoir

An honest look at the grief of losing physical freedom.
The critical shift from passive patient to active advocate.
How early lessons in resilience become essential survival tools.
A reminder to hold onto faith when everything else falls apart.
Practical wisdom for navigating life after a major trauma.

Why this story matters

Honest vulnerability

A straightforward look at the reality of major trauma.

Earned resilience

Learn how to find another way when the old paths close.

Unshakeable faith

Discover the power of holding on and moving forward.

Read the opening chapters today

The first two chapters of Victoria, Still Becoming, sent to your inbox
First news of the release
Occasional notes from Victoria

Victoria (Vicki) Killingsworth

Victoria (Vicki) Baker Killingsworth is an author, advocate, and educator. Born and adopted in Columbus, Ohio, and rooted for most of her life in Mississippi, she was raised by parents who taught her she could do anything she put her mind to, and she grew up active, athletic, and fiercely independent. After a sudden trauma altered her world, she began a journey that challenged her beliefs about herself and her purpose.

Her professional career has spanned education, counseling, advocacy, independent living, assistive technology, accessible housing, and public policy. Today she uses her experiences to help people look more deeply at their own lives, question what they believe is possible, and find the strength to keep moving forward.