Garage sale to help Algonquin couple reach dream

It was always Marvin and Carrie Koenig's dream to have a large family, and their large-scale garage sale this weekend could help them reach that goal.

The Algonquin couple have two children - Tyler, 12, and Allie, 8 - but they stopped having children once the couple realized their kids had Cohen Syndrome.

What's more, the parents discovered they were both carriers for it.

Cohen Syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects development, speech, eyesight and motor skills and is also known to weaken muscle tone.

Fewer than 1,000 people across the globe have been diagnosed with the disorder according to Genetics Home Reference.

From Thursday through Sunday, the Koenigs are holding a garage sale at their house in hopes of raising money toward their children's medical expenses.

As well, the couple would use some of the proceeds to undergo testing that would identify unaffected embryos, thus keeping the Koenigs' dreams of having a big family alive.

After several years of visiting specialists all over the area, Tyler and Allie were diagnosed with Cohen Syndrome in April 2009 - Allie's case is more severe than her brother's.

But the Koenigs knew all along something wasn't quite right.

"When my son was about 21/2, we realized things weren't progressing and that he wasn't developing like a lot of other kids," Carrie Koenig said. "My daughter was following the same pattern with the same developmental delays."

The Koenigs estimate that they spend $25,000 each year on their children's health care expenses, which include speech and occupational therapy and special needs camps.

Carrie Koenig took a part-time job so she could spend more time with her children shortly after they were diagnosed.

After her husband became the primary breadwinner, the Koenigs bought a smaller house in Algonquin to save money.

"It's just one of those things," Carrie Koenig said. "I decided my biggest value was to be home with the kids and work with them."

Thanks to her childhood friend Korin Curran, the word has gotten out about the sale, and local companies have stepped up to offer food for the sale's duration.

As well, many people have offered to volunteer at the sale or have donated things for the Koenigs to sell.

Curran, of East Dundee, passed out fliers to Algonquin residents and also started up a Facebook page about the sale.

"I just think that a lot of people take for granted what they have and I look at my friend every day and she's so inspiring and motivating and amazing," Curran said. "And she deserves what everyone else has - a chance at a healthy child."

The garage sale runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and will be held at 1980 Cloverdale Lane.

If you would like to help the Koenigs during the sale or at any other time, send an e-mail to cohensfundraiser@hotmail.com.