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Face of Defense: Airman’s Service Makes Resources Available for Special Needs Son

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As Air Force Senior Airman Katie Cogbill stands at the front of the room where she is receiving the 19th Airlift Wing’s Airman of the Year award, she looks toward her family and is reminded of where they were seven years ago.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Katie Cogbill, 19th Medical Operations Squadron medical technician, works at the Women’s Health Clinic on Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Cogbill received the 19th Airlift Wing Airman of the Year Jan. 27, 2017. (U.S. photo illustration by Senior Airman Mercedes Taylor)
Air Force Senior Airman Katie Cogbill, a medical technician with the 19th Medical Operations Squadron, is pictured in this photo illustration at the Women’s Health Clinic at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., March 2, 2017. She and her son, Barrett, appear in the mirror, at left. In 2014, Cogbill enlisted in the Air Force to ensure Barrett would receive proper care after at nearly two years of age he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cogbill was recently selected as the 19th Airlift Wing’s Airman of the Year. Air Force photo illustration by Senior Airman Mercedes Taylor
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Katie Cogbill, 19th Medical Operations Squadron medical technician, works at the Women’s Health Clinic on Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Cogbill received the 19th Airlift Wing Airman of the Year Jan. 27, 2017. (U.S. photo illustration by Senior Airman Mercedes Taylor)
Behind mother's love
Air Force Senior Airman Katie Cogbill, a medical technician with the 19th Medical Operations Squadron, is pictured in this photo illustration at the Women’s Health Clinic at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., March 2, 2017. She and her son, Barrett, appear in the mirror, at left. In 2014, Cogbill enlisted in the Air Force to ensure Barrett would receive proper care after at nearly two years of age he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Cogbill was recently selected as the 19th Airlift Wing’s Airman of the Year. Air Force photo illustration by Senior Airman Mercedes Taylor
Photo By: Senior Airman Mercedes Taylor
VIRIN: 170302-F-YW511-1007

Before the accolades and recognition for her career, a son came into her world. On July 29, 2010, Barrett was born and, with him came some unpredictable challenges.

Katie and her husband, Daniel, noticed inconsistency in Barrett’s verbal and motor skills shortly before his first birthday.

“He was able to do certain things like wave hello,” she said. “One day, he just stopped doing it like he never learned it in the first place.”

Barrett needed more help than his parents could provide alone. The Cogbills placed their son on a yearlong waiting list to be seen at the Texas Children’s Hospital Autism Center.

Diagnosis

Barrett received a diagnosis: autism spectrum disorder. ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child's ability to communicate and interact with others, according to the Mayo Clinic. It affects one in 68 children and each child’s case is unique.

Just shy of 2 years old, Barrett was considered delayed in verbal communication.

“We have to always keep an eye on him,” Katie said. “Like other children with autism, Barrett has an attraction to water. In the area we were staying, there was a lot of swampland and bayous.”

Although Orange, Texas, may have a lot of swampland, the town didn’t have resources for children with ASD, which resulted in Barrett not receiving enough therapy.

“We could get therapies through companies that would only send someone twice a week for 30 minutes,” Katie said. “I had to fight tooth and nail to get him the help he needed.”

While fighting financial stressors and lack of resources, Katie’s strength and hope never wavered.

“I was working two, sometimes three, jobs at a time and taking care of Barrett,” Katie said. “Sometimes I would go to bed crying about how it would never get better.”

Determination

Knowing sleepless nights on friend’s couches wouldn’t get her family anywhere, she knew the choice she needed to make.

With the full support of her husband and son, Katie enlisted in the Air Force in 2014.

Her love, tenacity and dedication to her family led her to join the one percent of those in the United States who choose to serve in one of the armed forces.

Katie is now a medical technician with the 19th Medical Operations Squadron here.

“From the time he got his diagnosis, I wanted to go into the medical field,” she said. “I wanted to find out more about neurological disorders like ASD so I could become more connected.”

After joining the Air Force, Katie didn’t only leave behind a small town; she left behind the worry of choosing between groceries or electricity.

In addition to financial stability, the Cogbills received therapy benefits for Barrett and learned how the Air Force fulfills its promise to take care of its people. Their son now receives occupational speech and physical therapy and applied behavior analysis several hours a week.

“Barrett now attends school in Cabot and showed improvement after being there for one month,” Cogbill said. “He’s doing so much better than he was a year ago. He’s gone from having trouble sitting still in a chair to sitting with his entire class for lunch.”

Success

While she celebrates Barrett’s progression with her husband, Katie continually balances being a parent and a successful airman.

“She is definitely one of the hardest working airmen I have ever met; her work ethic is always above and beyond.” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Laura Loggins, the medical services flight chief for 19th Medical Operations Squadron. “She is extremely dedicated to her studies, peers, family and patients.”

After working dead-end jobs with no financial stability, Katie’s devotion to her family led her to defy the odds and get out of their predicament.

“My family and I went from sleeping on a friend's couch and floor just a few years ago to where we don't have to worry about keeping the lights on or buying groceries,” she said. “I joined the Air Force to be able to better care for my family. I have wanted to do nothing else but be the best that I can ever be to ensure that they are cared for.”

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