In 2007, the world was introduced to Lori and Chris Coble, a couple from Orange County, California, whose lives were forever changed by an unthinkable tragedy. Their three young children—Kyle, Emma, and Katie—were killed in a devastating crash on Interstate 5 in Mission Viejo when a big rig slammed into the family’s minivan.
The heartbreaking story made international headlines. The Cobles appeared on numerous news programs, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, where Oprah poignantly remarked, “If there is one thing we have learned… it is that life can change in an instant.”
Their loss sparked renewed calls for highway safety reform. The late Senator Dianne Feinstein pushed for stricter oversight of the trucking industry, including regulations on driver logs and mandatory rest breaks.
“These devastating crashes highlight the cost of not moving forward with common-sense measures that could make our highways safer,” Sen. Feinstein wrote in 2007.
In the years that followed, the Cobles’ story took a miraculous turn.
The couple welcomed triplets—Ellie, Ashley, and Jake—who are now high school seniors. Their journey of healing and hope inspired millions.
Now, the family is facing another unimaginable challenge.
According to a new GoFundMe page, Lori, now 48, was recently rushed to the ER after experiencing troubling symptoms. Doctors diagnosed her with Stage IV Glioblastoma—an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. Emergency surgery removed 80% of the tumor, but the remaining portion, located behind her right eye, is inoperable due to its delicate location.
Lori has begun an intensive course of chemotherapy and radiation. The family describes the road ahead as “steep and uncertain,” and says the current burden is “simply too much for one family to carry alone.”
To support Lori and the Coble family during this devastating time, donations can be made here: Support Lori Coble’s fight against brain and breast cancer