Precerpt from Raising God's Rainbow Makers: Migraines
Shane suffered from migraines for a few years. It might have been a lifelong problem, but he was able to nip it in the bud, thanks to my own experience with migraines.
In 1980, I took a trip down the stairs -- on my back. Hurrying to get socks for Shane, who was ready for school, except for being sockless, I slipped and literally bounced down the stairs, hitting the edge of each, and ending up crumpled at the bottom of the stairs, on the cement floor. I felt myself becoming woozy. I was going to faint -- but I could not allow myself to do that. Doah was upstairs, alone, in his sit-up bed, trached. If his trach tube clogged, I had to be nearby to unclog it, or he would die. So, I pulled myself back up, on my stomach. I could not stand up.
I called the ambulance and long story short, the doctors determined I had a T5 compression fracture. Nearly immediately I began to experience multi-day migraines. The doctor prescribed medication, but before I had a chance to take it, I had learned how to chase away the migraines. At first, I fought through the migraine, doing whatever task I needed to do. That made it worse. So, I tried the opposite, laid down and "gave in" to the migraine, which was a bit better, so then I gave in completely, like one might do with labor pains, not fighting them but going along with them. That brought me to the level of becoming absent to absolutely everything. At first, it would take minutes, later seconds, and finally only a couple seconds. Now, they just don't come and were they to reappear it would be a fraction of a second to get them to disappear.
The doctor said that I had avoided thousands of dollars in biofeedback training by developing a self-directed neuroregulation technique that shares the spirit of biofeedback—learning to influence involuntary processes—but instead of relying on external sensors and training devices, I discovered an internal “switch” through trial, surrender, and refinement.
So, when Shane started experiencing migraines near the end of his 1000-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail with Donnie, I tried to teach him the technique. The doctor had prescribed Inderal, which works on the heart. I wanted Shane to be medicine free, too. I found that I could describe what I did, but how to "teach" someone to "surrender" and then refine the technique. For months, Shane could not do it. He continued to take the Inderal and continued to experience migraines. Then, one day, he announced he "got it." The migraines were under control. He had found the internal switch that allowed him to "blink himself away" just long enough for his body to reset his blood flow and blood vessels.
I understand that what Shane and I have experienced is rare: decades now without uncontrolled migraines, coming not from being able to teach the "absence state" but from listening deeply to our own bodies.
Book Description:
Raising God's Rainbow Makers
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
For more posts about Elizabeth and her books, click HERE.
Read more stories -- and photos -- about the Mahlou family in the blog (no longer maintained), Clan of Mahlou.
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