Precerpt from Raising God's Rainbow Makers: Bonding, Independence, and Lifelong Caring

 


What happens when the baby in the family occasionally “dies” or lives in constant danger of dying? The answer is surprisingly simple, because we witnessed it firsthand. They become eternally bonded—and exceptionally independent.

Whenever Doah stopped breathing or slipped into a clinical death, Donnie and I were wholly absorbed with him. We would tear out of the driveway behind the ambulance, racing to the children’s hospital miles away. At home, nine‑year‑old Lizzie—old enough to babysit, but just barely—took command.

She kept Shane and Noelle organized. She catheterized Noelle on schedule. She taught 23‑month‑old Shane to read and to follow along with her fourth‑grade lessons. No one told her he was too young, so he never knew he was. One day we heard him reading a book aloud… then another… then a stack of flash cards. The preschool we enrolled him in was equally stunned; overnight, they promoted him to first grade.

This crucible of crisis created more than bonding. It forged independence—self‑reliance, self‑confidence, and self‑capacity. That is why, when a kind gentleman helped four‑year‑old Noelle (in her long‑leg braces) through an automatic door, she thanked him politely and then asked him to put her back so she could do it herself. That is why both Noelle and Shane advocated for the academic classrooms they wanted in elementary school and again in high school. And that is why we never feared “abandoning” them while chasing ambulances to keep Doah alive.

When we returned home, the house would be clean—Lizzie was excellent at organizing a cleaning brigade. She had no intention of doing all the work herself, so everyone learned to clean up after their own messes. If it was a school day, lunches were packed. The sandwiches might not have been what I would have made, but they were ready: clean, dressed, and lunch boxes full.

As the years passed and Doah grew more stable, he was folded seamlessly into this bonded, independen[t band of kids. And then, in their teenage years, a long‑term effect emerged. No longer needing to take care of each other, they began taking care of Donnie and me. It was charming, endearing, and entirely unnecessary—but they wanted to help. Helping had become part of who they were.

Lizzie became the graduate student who guided her entire cohort through advanced statistics—an unexpected talent that led to a minor in stats and later served her well as a neuroscience professor. Noelle, still in braces, escorted the blind girl in her classes from room to room. Shane became a regional supervisor for 911. And Doah, to this day, asks me every few hours, “You okay? You need anything?”

Bonded. Independent. And deeply caring. Rainbow makers, every one of them.


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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