🌈 Excerpt from Raising God's Rainbow Makers: Of Wheels and Wind - An Airport Adventure (Mahlou)
Precerpt from Raising God’s Rainbow Makers (Mahlou)
There was a gate agent. She called for staff. Once, twice—again. But no one came. The wheelchair sat waiting like a forgotten promise.
Time ticked down. Our connection was slipping away.
I pushed for her to let me push the chair, but that was against policy (likely liability concerns). I explained: Doah couldn’t walk the distance between gates although I think no explanation was necessary. She could see that he physically wouldn’t make it. He’s 4'7", with a short stride and a very, very, very narrow trachea. He tuckers out easily. We never plan on walking unless the gates are side by side. These were a quarter mile apart.
She called again, checking her watch. Nada, nothing, no help. Finally, she nodded, “Okay. You can push.”
With very little time left to make our next leg, I loaded my carryon onto Doah’s lap, strapped his bag to the back of the chair, and took the handles like a woman on a mission.
We flew. Not just moved—flew.
And careened. We zigzagged through the terminal, dodging rolling suitcases and startled travelers, Doah's hair flying and his arms flailing. His voice rang out like a trumpet of joy:
“Whee! Whee! Watch out! Crazy driver Mom!”
People stared. Some laughed. I didn’t have time to notice—I was charting a course through the terminal, on the run, eyes darting from corridor signs to gate numbers, steering us toward the connection, praying that the plane door would still be open when we got there. It was.
We were the last to arrive. The gate agent cast a puzzled look at me as I pulled up and slammed on the braked. "Uh, you are not allowed to be pushing that."
No kidding! Tell me something I don't know, I thought.
That day, the system failed. But joy didn’t.
Book Description:
A Family Memoir of Grace, Grit, and Growing Up Different
What happens when a military family welcomes four children—each with wildly different needs—into a world not always built to support them?
In Raising God’s Rainbow Makers, one mother shares the remarkable journey of raising two children with complex disabilities—one with spina bifida, one with CHARGE Syndrome—and two intellectually gifted children, all born in different states during years of military life. Through medical crises, educational challenges, and societal roadblocks (both intentional and unintentional), this honest and inspiring memoir tells the story of how one family built a life of strength, compassion, and resilience.
With warmth and unflinching honesty, the author reflects on emergency surgeries, IEP battles, unexpected victories, and the fierce sibling bonds that formed in the face of it all. The children—now grown—bear witness to the power of support, faith, and never giving up.
This is not just a story of survival. It is a celebration of difference, a chronicle of hope, and a powerful testament to what love and determination can build when the world says "impossible."
Keywords:
Parenting memoir; Special needs parenting; Raising children with disabilities; Military family life; Family resilience; Inspirational family story; Faith-based memoir; Coping with medical challenges; Sibling support stories; Gifted children; Spina bifida; CHARGE Syndrome; Hydrocephalus; Congenital disabilities; Complex medical needs; Pediatric neurosurgery; IEP and special education; Gifted education; Educational advocacy; Inclusive education; Hope and healing; Courage and strength; Love and perseverance; Raising different children; Disability acceptance; Parenting through adversity; Overcoming barriers; Finding joy in hardship; Special needs journey; Family unity and support; For parents of disabled children; For parents of gifted children; For educators and therapists; Christian parenting memoir; For families facing rare diagnoses; Real-life parenting stories; Memoirs about raising children; Stories of medical miracles
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