Coale was born with 12 broken bones due to a rare diagnosis of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) type III. Also known as brittle bone disease, OI causes Coale’s bones to be soft and extremely susceptible to fractures. Something like a simple misstep can cause Coale to suffer a broken bone.

During an ultrasound when Coale’s mom, , was 20 weeks pregnant, doctors noticed his limbs were measuring a little bit shorter. They were referred to the Children’s Hospital of Georgia and received the news of Coale’s diagnosis of OI type III.

Rebecca said she questioned, “How do we hold him? How do we nurse him? How do we change his diaper? How do we burp him? How do we do tummy time?” She relied heavily on help from the nurses and doctors at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia, who have been there to answer every question along the way.

Over the years Coale has had several surgeries to place rods in all long bones to help realign them and reduce the risk of breaks. After spending his first week of life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Coale began physical therapy and has returned to the Children’s Hospital of Georgia weekly for therapy ever since.

Today, Coale is 5 years old and despite the number of bones he has broken, he is still one tough kid and full of personality. He doesn’t let his diagnosis stop him. He loves playing basketball and said it is the most brilliant game he’s ever seen.

Ashlee, Coale’s occupational therapist at the Children’s Hospital of Georgia, said, “He’s doing fantastic. He’s such a bright little guy and motivated to do everything we give to him.”

Rebecca said despite his diagnosis, she and her family are doing their best to encourage Coale to be independent. “The worst part about OI is being told no, and not being able to try. There is a fine balance of letting him try and being responsible parents in order to keep him safe,” she said.

Rebecca said she doesn’t know what her family would do without the support of the Children’s Hospital of Georgia team.