Pink Elephants: A mother’s story of faith, strength and perseverance

by Christy Texeira

When her five-year-old daughter came home from school with bodily bruises, it was assumed to be innocent schoolyard play.But when she woke in the middle of the night to an unstoppable bloody nose, it became the beginning of a heart wrenching journey through doctor’s visits and a family’s struggle to make life-and-death decisions in the midst of agonizing uncertainty.

Pink Elephants is the story of a family pushed to the brink, as they face their daughter’s rare life-threatening illness. The Texeira family discovered the most essential ingredients in surviving great their unwavering faith, gratitude for each day, and the power in each family member’s inner strength.

Told from the mother’s perspective, Pink Elephants takes us into the private moments of tenderness, the fragility of childhood innocence, and the reminder that control over a situation is an illusion.

As the Texeira family shows us, life isn’t planned—it is lived.

308 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2021

About the author

Christy Texeira is a mother and entrepreneur. Her award winning interior design skills have been featured in Better Homes and Gardens and Colorado Homes and Lifestyles. Parenting for Christy draws on her talent for problem solving in unique ways. Though there are no official awards for being a mom, being a parent is her greatest accomplishment. She has excelled in the extraordinary obstacles that come with having a child with a life-threatening illness. The Colorado native resides in Northern Colorado with her family and beloved dog, Malucca. Taking advantage of the active lifestyle the scenic state has to offer, she is a lover of all things outdoors, including skiing, gardening, rock climbing, and hiking fourteeners.

Reviews

[Madeline Daetwyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved experiencing this journey through Christy’s memories. This is a wonderful book for anyone dealing with a family illness or helping a friend going through that. The overall perspective this book leaves you with is invaluable.

[Georgia G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christy Texeira, the mother and author of Pink Elephants has written a highly descriptive, emotional account of her family's struggle during her daughter's health crisis. In all honesty, I was hesitant to read it, since I have had my own health issues and wasn't sure that I wanted to read a depressing story. However, the effect was just the opposite. Christy's writing style is honest, candid, humorous and at times devastating. I was captivated by their very personal journey and how each family member reacted to the unending ups and downs. I could feel the conflicting emotions and marveled at how despite all odds, they could keep coming back to center. And their center was to remain devoted, no matter what stood in their way, to "Team Texeira." Pink Elephants is a story about hope, strength, courage, resiliency and unconditional love. I highly recommend reading this book whether or not you have had, or are having a medical challenge. Because Pink Elephants is not about illness, it is about health of the body, mind and soul.

[Holli Giebler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Concurrently heart-warming and heart-wrenching, this is a wonderfully paced narrative. I was quickly drawn in to the surreal journey thrust upon the author and her family when her young daughter is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. This is a refreshingly honest and spirited chronicle that deftly illuminates the complexities of a family's emotional and spiritual world as it unexpectedly collides with modern medicine and her child's struggle to survive. A must read!

[Stan Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emotional

A very emotional read. Having gone through much the same thing with my wife, I can readily identify with a lot of it. Even if a person hasn't known anyone going through this or any cancer will be able to identify with this book on some level. Thank you for writing this.

[Laura Ruthven · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely story well written and easy to read. Loved the book was sad to finish it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pink Elephants is an excellently crafted, well-written story about a mother and a family's journey to walk righteously through one of the most dreaded and heartbreaking walks: learning a child has a life-threatening illness. This remarkable story of grace captures the vulnerability, perseverance, and deep trust in God held by the author, the family, and many other loved ones as they navigate the most terrifying situation a parent can be faced with. It is a testament to the author's deep skill as a writer, her strong ability and mastery of language, and love of the art of writing that the author has been able to share this story through such turmoil. I came to read this book at a time when a friend was distraught with the fear her child would be diagnosed with a fatal illness. The child had been undergoing a variety of tests and physicians narrowed down the cause to a potential few, one of which was fatal. I was looking for a book that could comfort my friend, told from the experience of a mother who had walked a similar walk as the one my friend was about to begin. In this book, not only did I find a divine physician of hearts and experience, I found a voice I so deeply resonated with, I felt I could hear the author's voice having all of the emotions at 3am with me as I read through the night. I could not put this book down. I'm so grateful the author birthed this book into the world. It is a salve, such a blessing and a grace for all those experiencing hardship. Thank you Christy for your hard-won lesson in Grace.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘓𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳⁣
⁣⁣
A few months back, a friend reached out to ask if I would be interested in reading and sharing about her friend's, a local mom's book, 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬. ⁣⁣

In her book, Christy Texeira documents the year her oldest daughter, Hailey was at Children's Hospital in Denver battling a life-threatening illness. After being poked and prodded, and after weeks of waiting on concrete answers and diagnoses, it was determined that Hailey would need a bone marrow transplant. ⁣⁣
𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 chronicles the people - the nurses, doctors, teachers, friends and community - who helped the Texeira family during this time of uncertainty. With sensitivity and raw honesty, it addresses the stress, fear, and guilt of a mother who is tirelessly enduring and watching her baby suffer each day. It documents the innocence and strength of a child trying to survive when her body is working against her. And the unconditional love of her little sister, Emily, who without hesitancy, steps in to save her sister's life.⁣⁣
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Read this if you like personal memoirs about clinging to hope, faith and community during times of crisis.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 pairs well with wearing a mask and getting vaccinated to not only protect yourselves, but to protect your vulnerable, at-risk neighbors and friends whose bodies can't fight infection as well as yours can.⁣⁣
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😷⁣⁣
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⁣Thank you Christy Texeira for gifting me with your story. 💗🐘⁣
⁣⁣

[Becky Woodcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know you are reading a good memoir when you find yourself laughing, crying, and being right in the moment with the author. Christy Texeira writes a wonderful, touching story and shares an incredibly difficult moment of her life with openness, honesty, and emotion. As you read, you step into Christy’s world and wish you could jump right into the story help her pull through! Christy shares her story openly and honestly – this is a real-life story and Christy shares some amazing life lessons about family, facing life’s trials, and making it through!

In addition to telling a beautiful, heart-wrenching story, Christy includes touching photos and inspiring quotes in her book – the entire reading experience is inspiring and uplifting. I loved this book and couldn't put it down! Get your copy of Pink Elephants and read it today! You are in for a reading treat!

Christy, many thanks to you, and your family and wide circle of support, for sharing your story!

[Patricia Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pink Elephants is an empowering and moving story that embraces the resiliency of a family facing tremendous challenges. It was exhilarating to see how faith replaced fear with the author. Christy shares insights into her personal journey and provides a framework for readers who have personally encountered or know of people struggling with difficult life events. Christy is very emotive and captures your intense interest in dealing with tragedy. Her storytelling approach provides readers the opportunity to share in her experience and at the same time relate and reflect on their own unique journey. I highly recommend this book whether you are personally working through challenging events in your own life or, if you know people who are, this book will provide meaningful insight - giving you a chance to better connect and support all those around you!

[Sharon Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw, honest, heartrending, and heartwarming, “Pink Elephants” is an incredible story of persistence, patience, warranted IMpatience, and a family’s unconditional love. From the opening - full of the excitement and anticipation of building a family, to the middle - full of anxiety, fear, relentless searching for answers and gut-wrenching decisions, all the way through to the end – happy and full of hope, Christy makes the reader feel part of a journey that would otherwise be impossible to understand. The meaningful and inspirational quotes at the beginning of each chapter were an especially nice touch! A difficult (but easy) read, this is a book you won’t want to put down. A must read for young adult and adult readers!

[Shane Svorec · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story and a heartwarming testament to the power of love, family, and faith.
Sharing her personal and painful account of a mother's worst fear, Christy invites you into her family, allowing the reader to experience secondhand their fear and their fight for one of their own. The detail she shares leaves you rooting for them every step of the way, and by the end, readers are proud to announce their membership of "Team Texeira!"
This book is a wonderful example of how life doesn't always go according to plan. Things can and do fall apart, but faith, family, and friends hold us together, and a positive perspective is the choice we make that helps us keep us going.
This book gave me all the feels.

[Mark Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mother's Epic Battles to Keep Her Daughter

Love, fear and anger tango across the pages of Pink Elephants, a memoir by Christy Texeira. In the throes of her child’s prolonged battle with leukemia, Texeira makes a regrettable mistake and unwittingly unleashes a reign of terror on her family in the form of a power-tripping case worker from child protective services. Texeira’s nightmare is soon realized, but, with help from an amazing and supportive cadre of family, friends, and employers, she finds that faith, hope and love will overcome. Texeira delivers a text full of raw emotion, with added doses of gratitude and humor.

[Kelli Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pink Elephants was a phenomenal read! I recently flew home for a loved one's Celebration of Life and brought Pink Elephants as my travel companion. What a timely reminder this book was of the strength, love and compassion we can find in one another and within in ourselves. I deeply appreciate Christy Texeira's candid and detailed storytelling approach. As readers, she brings us along every step of the way in her family's journey. While their story is unique, I found it incredibly easy to relate and connect with their struggles and triumphs. This book is a valuable read for people of all ages and in all stages of life!

[Ann Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely, lovely book! So well written, it just flowed. I quickly became caught up in this family's true heart-wrenching battle to save their daughter's life. The family just got tighter and tighter as the bad news kept coming. I was especially touched by how their friends and family held them up. That is such a surprising thing you learn when you go through something horrible - how many people love you and the ways they show that love. I highly recommend this book to anyone, not just people facing similar problems.

[Jayme · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely love memoirs, and I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir of a family's journey through a trying health situation with a young child. I found the book compelling--it read like a novel. It was told in a relatable way. I found the parts about Haley's classmates and teachers particularly touching, as well as the portions the author shared of the friendships they made with other families at the hospital. When I finished the book, I felt uplifted by the portrait of gratitude and positivity amidst difficulty and hardship. Highly recommend!

[Tyrone Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this is a tear jerking story, especially when the CPS lady walked into your life (come on really? I have never yet met a child abuser who has rung up and admitted it, so seriously she exaggerated for sure!!). I have had the honour of messaging Christy as this story is almost a shadow of my life (I have a rare syndrome and been in and out of Hospital my whole life).

I am so glad Hailey and Emily were able to eventually able to return to school!

God bless!

[Kate LaCroix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pink Elephants was an absolute page turner. As I began to read it I found myself in disbelief by not only what Hailey and her family were experiencing, but also by the level of positivity, strength and ‘all hands on deck’ rallying they came together to achieve - time and time again. And just when I thought things couldn’t become any more challenging for these beautiful humans, they did. This is an exceptionally well-written and inspiring journey. I highly recommend this book.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't tend to read memoirs but was quickly drawn into this story of a family facing a parent's worst nightmare--the helplessness, pain and resilience needed when your child has a life-threatening illness. It's honestly and lovingly told and a quick read! The fact that family photographs were included likewise makes their harrowing experience real.

[Kerri Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pink Elephants was an eye opening book about one families’ experiences and coping mechanisms in the most difficult of times. As a parent also in crisis mode with a sick kid, I found this book reassuring in that someone else has successfully navigated this road, as bumpy as it can be. It makes you laugh and cry, and highlights that family and the human spirit is resilient- against all odds.

[Barbara Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiration to families of the critically ill.

I was amazed at everything those young girls had to endure and how well their parents handled the curves life threw at them. The details of the illness and the medical treatment were outstanding. I especially enjoyed the revelations of faith and the kindness and generosity of family, friends and strangers.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story about motherhood and overcoming troubling times. Such a interesting and diverse way to explain what family is all about and how much goes into parenting that others don’t know about!! Permanent addition to my shelf!

[Carrie Herk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and family. This book is heartbreaking, tear jerking, heartwarming, and inspiring. Team Texeira is amazing and I truly love that their story is in print for all to experience their journey. Beautifully written and a must read!

[Joy Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true story of a family's journey with a life-threatening illness of their young daughter. They shared the good as well as difficulties they experienced to eventually come through on the other side.

[Patricia]

Christy is an amazing mom & writer, her honesty as to how she was feeling going thru such a devastating ordeal. Hailey so brave & Emily couldn’t be a nicer sister. Every emotion came out when reading this book. Also Tyler was always a strong supporter. A must read for sure.
Pat

[Traceylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why

Great book about a very young girl who had to get a bone transplant and her little sister who saved her life. The whole family But sgoes though alot of hard time with this. But have strong faith in the lord.

[Emily Texeira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written! A truly inspiring story!

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an incredible book! I would recommend to anyone. Very engaging, inspiring, and heartwarming.

[Brooke Babcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written in such a way that you feel like you are sitting beside Christy and the Texeira family. The raw, emotional story is hard to put down. It's a gut wrenching, yet humorous adventure that reminds us of our strength and how faith can hold you up even in the toughest times. Poignant given what the world is going through with the pandemic. Read it! You will NOT be disappointed!

[Luminita LaFlash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looked at the cover of the book, and I smiled. An elephant with the trunk up it's a sign of good luck. I loved the idea. I started reading the book and was shocked since I had not expected to read such a story. With each page I turned, I wanted to know more about the good life has to offer, the bad we sometimes must endure, and the ugly... We must never forget that life is full of unexpected twists and turns that can challenge us in ways we never imagined. The story delves into the emotional turmoil of a mother and the family's experiences as they try to cope with the news of an illness and its impact on their relationships. Through their journey, the family discovers the power of love and resilience in the face of adversity. Let's remind us that things happen in our lives that we don't have control over, but that's why we have each other to help us go through these moments to know that we are not alone and that we can never lose hope. Christy's story teaches us more powerful lessons, but I wouldn't unveil it and instead encourage you to grab a copy of her book and discover the other messages she is trying to send to all of us. I promise you will not be disappointed.