Unbelievable True Story of Survival — The Housekeeper’s Secret
At just 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 eventually gave up trying. Thus began her 10-year struggle with bulimia, a journey that profoundly shaped her and deepened her appreciation for resilience and healing.
An Unbelievable True Story of Survival You Will Never Forget
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 writing 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—asking herself, “What can I learn from this?”
“Life has a way of continually testing me. When I overcome one challenge, a bigger one often appears. But I believe this is how our souls evolve—through adversity, we grow. My faith is my anchor, even as it is constantly tested, and it keeps me grounded through each trial.” — Sandra Schnakenburg
In her interview, Sandra challenges the listener to do the same—to see pain as a teacher and faith as a lifeline.
A Powerful Memoir of Love, Secrets, and Survival
Both chilling and inspiring, The Housekeeper’s Secret is a gripping true story that reveals the power of faith, forgiveness, and inner strength.
It’s a journey that reminds us that truth can be stranger than fiction—and that even in the face of trauma and betrayal, the human spirit has the capacity to rise, heal, and begin again.
The Story Behind The Housekeeper’s Secret
When Lee Metoyer is hired to be the new housekeeper, she has no idea she’s about to become the anchor to a family trapped under an abusive patriarch’s rule—setting a mystery in motion that will take decades to uncover.
At the age of seventy-two, Lee falls ill and, on her deathbed, asks Sandy to author her story. The only problem is—Sandy doesn’t know the story.
What happened to Lee was unimaginably horrific—nearly impossible to survive. Yet she found a way to reinvent herself, adopting a new name, birthdate, and even fabricating an entire past.
Forbidden from asking questions and often reprimanded for prying, Sandy had little insight into Lee’s true history.
