Volunteers needed to help family build Habitat for Humanity home

Photo courtesy Rebecca Anderson
Trials over the past year and a half were challenging for long-time residents Chris and Kelly Coleman. As Chris works to regain his strength following cancer treatments, the family could use some volunteer help to frame in their Habitat for Humanity home before the snow falls.

By Rebecca Anderson

Special to The SUN

Habitat for Humanity is pleased to announce the selection of its 25th new home ownership partner, Chris and Kelly Coleman. The Colemans, with their two kids, fit the basic criteria for becoming a Habitat partner: need, ability to pay and willingness to partner.

Trials over the past year and a half that might have knocked many people over have ultimately strengthened Chris and Kelly’s relationship.

Both long-time residents of Pagosa Springs, Chris and Kelly met while working together at Boss Hogg’s Restaurant. They knew within a week of dating that they were in love. They’ve now been together for eight years and married in 2010. In 2011, their family grew with the birth of daughter Kylie.

Everything was moving along as it would for any newly married couple — figuring out work, finances and family — until Chris became ill in 2014. He developed a cold early in the year that lingered for months. Continually fatigued by this mysteriously long-lasting cold, he was finally diagnosed with tonsillitis. After treatment, however, the fatigue and tonsillitis were not improving. Repeated visits to his local doctor finally resulted in a referral to an ear, nose and throat doctor in Durango. Upon examination, the Durango doctor immediately declared that Chris had a tumor. He returned home to Kelly that day with the news that he had cancer.

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