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 in...