Each year thousands of people line-up to ride carnival attractions at area county fairs, without much thought for their safety.

We have a story about a Defuniak Springs family that might make you think twice about those rides.

Their day of thrills has turned into a life time of tragedy.

On Oct. 7, 14-year-old Katherine Cosson, her mother and some of her brothers and sisters decided to have a little fun at the Walton County Fair.

Katie and her sister Seana climbed aboard a ferris wheel-like ride with enclosed cages called the rock-o-plane.

Katherine's Mother Valerie Cosson says the ride changed life forever.

"She wasn't strapped in when it started spinning and she hit her head on the ride, when she got off the ride she was really dizzy and started vomiting and then she collapsed."

According to Valerie, doctors say that bump on Katherine's head caused some major medical problems.

"She spent 7 days in the hospital she had a concussion she had a tear in lining of her brain"

Katherine's Brother Chris Cosson says her condition has led to a life of multiple seizures, a complete personality change and severe memory loss.

"She's ok with a verbal request but if you give her a written request she's not, she scored a 68 on mental screening and that's mentally handicap"

This, from a former a & b student who, before the fair accident, loved school.

"It' now takes her days to do something that use to take her minutes"

Like many Americans the Cossons where not ready for the tragedy because they are the among millions without health insurance

The Cosson's own a barbecue restaurant, their son Chris says their income is limited.
"My parents are self-employed and with six children they just couldn't afford insurance"
"For a family of 6 it runs anywhere from 11 hundred to 15 hundred a month and you got to look and put that out or you can keep your business afloat and pay your bills", SAID Valerie Cosson.

And now that Katherine's medical bills have gone over $100-,000, Valerie says they're having an even harder time staying a float.

"Just to read her x-ray, was $1,100, they would give her amertrack pills for $160, anything they gave was just outrageous, I can't believe how expensive everything is"

All because of a few hours of entertainment.

"That's why we go to the fair to make sure they have fun, we never thought this would happen"

You might wonder why the fair isn't helping the Cosson's.

Apparently the company that owns and operates the midway rides has insurance.

But the Cosson's say their attempts to contact the company have failed.

So they've hired a lawyer.

In the meantime, Walton county tax collector Rhonda skipper has set up a benefit account to help the Cosson's.

You can help out by donating to the Shawn and Valerie Cosson account at any "bank trust" bank branch.