Precerpt from Raising God's Rainbow Makers: Noelle’s Amputations - A Masterclass in Pragmatism
In her lifetime, Noelle has had two amputations—each one a study in her extraordinary, almost disarming practicality.
The first happened because of what can only be described as a silly accident. Somehow, she managed to catch her toe in the spokes of her wheelchair. Why she was barefoot, I still cannot tell you. She shouldn’t have been; she’s supposed to protect her feet precisely because she can’t feel them. In fact, she has no sensation below the waist. So when her toe got caught, she simply kept rolling. The toe tore mostly off, and the only thing that alerted her was the trail of blood she noticed on the floor as she moved.
Off to surgery she went. Off with the toe. No drama. Noelle is a pragmatist to her core. A toe she couldn’t feel meant nothing to her.
The well‑meaning doctor, unfamiliar with the matter‑of‑factness that often accompanies life as a paraplegic, tried to offer empathy during the post‑op conversation. Gently, she asked Noelle whether she was “missing” her toe. Noelle, hearing the question through the lens of literal pragmatics, replied cheerfully, “Oh yes, it’s all gone!” I still wish I had a camera to capture the doctor’s expression in that moment.
Years later, the stakes were far higher. An uncontrolled infection had burrowed into the bone—osteomyelitis of the right leg—and the orthopedic surgeon finally reached the conclusion no one wants to deliver: it was either Noelle’s leg or Noelle’s life. He approached her nervously, bracing for tears, panic, or at least a dramatic pause.
But Noelle, being Noelle, simply shrugged and said, “Well, that leg has done me no good in forty‑nine years, so you might as well have it.”
Once again, a doctor was left blinking in astonishment while Noelle moved on with the same calm logic that has carried her through every medical crossroads. Where others might see loss, she sees irrelevance. Where others brace for grief, she reaches for clarity. It is one of her quiet superpowers—this ability to strip life down to what matters and release what doesn’t.
And in both amputations, she taught everyone around her—surgeons included—what resilience looks like when it’s lived, not performed.
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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