Precerpt from Raising God's Rainbow Makers: Epcot Center

When the kids were little, we drove from Pittsburgh to Daytona Beach, Florida, to visit Donnie’s grandmother after Grandpa died. We spent some lovely days on the beach. Lizzie and Shane ran straight into the surf like they had been born with gills. Noelle, determined as always, figured out how to wade with her braces and crutches. (When we got home, we had to explain to the bracemaker how the ocean had “mysteriously” demolished them. He was not amused. Noelle was.)

Doah, only a couple of years old, couldn’t run with the others. He still had his tracheotomy, so he and I sat in the sand building castles while Donnie supervised the older kids. It was one of the rare moments in those years when I felt relaxed — truly relaxed — because most of our time was spent in hospitals, clinics, or managing medical equipment at home. Sitting there with him, letting the sun warm us, I allowed myself to believe that everything was under control.

And then the ocean reminded me that nothing is ever under control.

A supersized wave rolled in, washed right over us, and as it pulled back, it grabbed Doah — all twenty-something pounds of him — and tumbled him out toward the sea. In an instant, adrenaline took over. I ran after him, fighting the force of the water, watching his little face appear, disappear, appear again as he rolled with the wave. In the back of my mind, a whole committee of fears started shouting: He’ll drown! He’ll be swept out! His trach will fill with sand!

Finally — finally — I caught up and scooped him out of the water.

He was giggling. I was not.

A day or two later, we took a break from the beach and drove to Orlando. We gave the kids a choice: Epcot Center or Disneyworld. Future scientists Lizzie and Shane voted for Epcot with the enthusiasm of children who believed they might personally be invited to join a research team. Noelle, of course, went along with them because that is what Noelle does.

Off we went.

Forty‑five years later, I don’t remember much of what we saw — a blur of pavilions, shiny technology, and the kind of optimistic futurism that only the 1980s could produce. But I do remember one thing with perfect clarity: the dinosaur ride.

Some families have sweet memories of that ride. We have… something else.

As soon as the animatronic dinosaurs appeared, Doah decided the only logical response was to escape. He climbed up and over my shoulder — a maneuver that would have impressed a Navy SEAL — while I held onto one of his legs for dear life. The ride kept moving, the dinosaurs kept roaring, and Doah kept shouting, “Doggy! Big doggy! Play big doggy!”

He was thrilled. I was having flashbacks to the Atlantic Ocean.

Sometimes the only way to survive numbing fear is to laugh — later, when your heart rate returns to something resembling normal. At the time, though, I was just trying to keep my son from leaping into the Jurassic period.

Epcot may have been designed as a celebration of human innovation and global harmony, but for us, that day, it was a reminder of something far more personal: raising rainbow makers means living at the intersection of terror and comedy, often simultaneously.

And somehow, we kept going — wave after wave, dinosaur after dinosaur — because that’s what families do. 

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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