Coggins Family
by Sara Raynor
Coggins family lives in Sutherin. Mariah and Jordan have six children: Kimber (14), Jesse (10), Waylon (8), Rhett (6), Colton (3), and Claire (1).
Kimber has Bronchiolitis Obliterans, which is a lung disorder. She got sick when she was six and while she was in the hospital she developed a heart condition that caused a stroke. She had to relearn to walk and talk. She also mastered writing with her left hand. She is resilient and never complains. She handles things on her own and likes challenges.
Jesse was diagnosed at a young age. He has Tourette’s, OCD and anxiety disorder. The Coggins have learned to approach certain events and subjects carefully to avoid meltdowns. He has a tendency to obsessively focus on things. Some things he is working on is not speaking impulsively and talking out of context. However, he has discovered his own coping skills and things that work for him to get through daily struggles. He is a very caring person who always checks on everyone else. He is sensitive, loves life and likes history and learning new things.
Due to Kimber’s condition, the Coggins have to keep all of the kids away from the public due to risk of exposure. Mariah has to get creative to find things to do together to get through the isolation. While they have been able to avoid getting sick, and Kimber’s lung function has improved, they all miss seeing friends.
They are happy to have each other, but making friends is one of the goals for the coming year. Kimber has a hard time opening up due to her disability, a natural shyness and a history of being bullied in the past. She has found some outlet in online games, but they would like her to make some real-life friends. She is very artistic, imaginative and creative. She can find something to like in everyone so she would be a good friend.
The Coggins started homeschooling to ensure the medical isolation, and it still feels kind of new to them. Mariah feels like she struggles with all of the meltdowns and attitudes she faces from the kids every day. It takes a lot of energy to get through the day. They have had little support from extended family so they have had to figure it all out on their own.
This has led to them growing closer as a family and they have learned a lot from each other. Mariah says she has grown to respect and embrace the issues and tantrums. They are all a form of communication and there is always an underlying reason. They find ways to navigate them all, one day at a time. She wants others to know that while obstacles are always there, to remember to keep your humor and take time for yourself.
Mariah hopes that by sharing their story, it will resonate with the FEATT community. She hopes to find others who are facing similar challenges and support each other.
