Raising Rhia - by Terena Scott (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For fans of Heather Lanier and Claire Bidwell Smith, Raising Rhia is a deeply moving memoir, written with vulnerability and grace, that explores the complexities of anticipatory grief while celebrating the unexpected joys found in everyday moments.

The powerful story of a mother fighting for her daughter in a world unprepared for her needs.

Born with multiple disabilities--including vision impairment, cerebellar ataxia, hearing loss, and mitochondrial disease--Rhia's life unfolds in a maze of medical uncertainty and bureaucratic roadblocks. In this memoir, Terena Scott lays bare the relentless battles, raw grief, and fierce love that define her journey, refusing to let the system--or fate--dictate her daughter's future.

Told in six poignant sections--Dreams, Fear, Hope, Loss, Grief, and Love--Raising Rhia captures the complexities of parenting a child with disabilities, balancing everyday joys with the weight of anticipatory grief. At its heart, it is a story of resilience, connection, and seeing a child for who she is, rather than what she has. Both a deeply personal narrative and a reflection on the broader realities of raising a child with disabilities in the United States, Scott's candid and compassionate account offers insight, solidarity, and hope for parents and caregivers facing similar challenges--and anyone seeking joy inside the burden of grief.

Review Quotes

"In this memoir, Terena Scott writes with honesty, humor, and unwavering hope about the challenges and joys of caring for her daughter, Rhia. The author offers vivid insight into the complex experience of caring for someone who is disabled--and ultimately helps the reader reimagine what is valuable."--Joelle Fraser, author of The Territory of Men and The Forest House

"To write a meaningful memoir--one that tugs at your heart--you do need both [a good story and proper grammar], but also a willingness to share the 'bones' of living in a gentle, informative, and compassionate way. You'll find this in Raising Rhia, Terena Scott's poignant story of caregiving, parenthood, compassion, and search for identity. It's also a book that rightfully honors a mother's intuition."--Stan Goldberg, author of Leaning into Sharp Points

About the Author

Terena Scott's work is fueled by her passion for art and her belief that everyone, including children with disabilities, has a right to self-expression. She embodies this belief through her work teaching art to children with complex medical needs. A trained teacher of the visually impaired, she also reads stories for visually impaired children on her YouTube channel, "Story Time with Miss Terena." Terena lives and works in the San Francisco Bay Area.