MSI Press Blog

  Precerpt from  Raising God’s Rainbow Makers (Mahlou) Noelle: Finding a Way There’s a rare kind of specialist—one who doesn’t just follow the rules but rewrites them with compassion and creativity. Parents of children with disabilities know how precious these people are. They’re not just professionals; they’re lifelines. Andi, Noelle’s physical therapist, was one of those rare gems. Undeterred by limitations, she saw possibility where others saw delay. Noelle had to wait for several operations before she could be fitted for braces. Most would have paused therapy until the hardware arrived. Not Andi. She worked on strengthening Noelle’s muscles in advance, preparing her body for the moment it could move freely. So when Noelle finally received her braces at age three, she didn’t just stand—she walked. Immediately. Her joy was electric. We celebrated at McDonald’s, where a woman in the next line kept staring at Noelle’s braces. Noelle, unaware of any stigma, beamed and said, “Hi...

  Precerpt (excerpt from book prior to publication):  Raising God's Rainbow Makers  (Mahlou) Doah was a surprise (well, so were the other three) who quite fortuitously was predicted to be born in Pittsburgh, PA around Christmas Day 1977 -- semester break from my studies at near-by Renboro University. However, it was my grandson, Nathaniel, who ended up being born on Christmas day. Doah was born quite early, messing up both my teaching schedule and studies (and creating quite a lot of subsequent havoc due to all his medical issues -- 30 years later, he is still creating havoc, mostly due to his overly inquisitive and highly extroverted nature, coupled with some serious mental challenges). I don't remember all my labors, but I do remember Doah's. I went into labor while teaching a foreign language class! I managed to make it through the class (my stubborn nature, which does not always serve me well) and asked one of the students in the "college over 60" program to s...

  Simone: The Gamma Queen At 18 years old—well beyond the typical 10–15 year lifespan of Himalayans—Simone is not just surviving; she’s sovereign. In human years, she’s a centenarian, and she wears her age like a velvet robe: soft, regal, and quietly commanding. Simone is a classic Gamma: independent yet affectionate, serene yet perceptive. She loves attention but never demands it. Combing her long fur brings forth deep, quiet purrs—like a low chant from a feline monastery. Though arthritis and blindness have softened her physical presence, they’ve only deepened her emotional one. Her eyes, once brilliant blue, now clouded, still hold the memory of every gaze exchanged over nearly two decades. Her throne is a sleep number bed—higher than most, and perfectly suited to her new role as a tree cat. Once a bush cat who preferred low, hidden spaces, Simone now reigns from above, protected and elevated. During the day, she climbs three soft stairs to reach her perch, where cloth pads h...