Golf course superintendents and turf industry leaders rally to support the family of a premature baby boy.
Rob Vaughan, known as Dr. Turf Paint, has been a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America for more than 30 years. When his son, baby Asa Vaughan, was born four weeks premature with complications in pregnancy six weeks prior to the birth, the turf industry stepped up to the plate.
Born on the first day of spring, Dr. Turf Paint's son begins a fight for his life
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Baby Asa born on the first day of spring to parents Rob Vaughan, a.k.a. "Dr. Turf Paint," and Heather Watkins-Vaughan. Golf course superintendents in the Carolinas and across the country quickly rallied in support of the family.[/caption]
"It was time to give back," said Jennifer Seevers, of Geoponics, a Florida-based corporation best known for its popular Endurant turf colorants, among other environmentally friendly turf products.
Baby Asa was born on the first day of spring, March 20. After spending the first 68 days of his life in a hospital, Asa went home on Easter Sunday.
"Asa is a miracle baby," said mother Heather Watkins-Vaughan.
Prior to the birth, unforeseen medical complications put both mom and baby at high risk, requiring constant monitoring 43 days prior to the birth.
Baby Asa was born with wet lungs, which are over-expanded, not fully developed and contain fluid, as well as a soft esophagus, leading to the risk of his air supply being cutoff at any time. He experienced apnea, where his breathing stopped for 20 seconds or longer, and Brady episodes, where his blood oxygen levels and heart rate dropped to dangerously low levels in seconds.
Asa was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Betty H. Cameron Women's and Children's Hospital in Wilmington, NC until April 16. Due to pre-birth complications followed by the constant monitoring at the hospital for weeks after birth, Rob Vaughan and 4-year-old son Alex Vaughan also hadn't been home in weeks, instead staying at nearby a hospital guest house for families of patients.
Turf industry steps up to the plate to support Dr. Turf Paint
Family comes first, and in the industry of turf, family includes supporting professional peers.
The additional costs, including the whole family's extended stay away from home, caused a stress that colleagues sought to eliminate so that the Vaughan family could focus on what really matters-- life.
Executive Director of the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendent Association Tim Kreger, as well as Seevers, put calls out to the golf and turf industries with a flood of support for the Vaughan family soon to follow.
"Kreger was the force behind the support from the GCSAA and the Carolinas Association for Asa," said Seevers.
Thousands of dollars were raised on Go Fund Me pages as well as donations made directly to the hospital, including an anonymous donation that covered the family's stay away from their home in a hospital guest house.
"The Vaughan's are emotionally overwhelmed and deeply touched by the outpouring of support," said Seevers.
Baby Asa continues his recovery, coming home for the first time on Easter Sunday
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Baby Asa Vaughan was born on the first day of spring, and, after spending weeks in the NICU, he came home for the first time on Easter Sunday. Asa is the son of "Dr. Turf Paint," Rob Vaughan, and his wife Heather Watkins Vaughan. Brother Alex, 7, was also by Asa's side.[/caption]
It was an incredible blessing when Asa came home with the family on Easter Sunday.
"I am blessed beyond measure to have friends and family that are so kind and generous," said Watkins-Vaughan.
Contributions were made by dozens of individual superintendents as well as the GCSAA and CGCSA.
"I am always taken aback at what our peers in the turf industry can accomplish when it comes to helping one, or two, of their own," said Seevers.
Vaughan's contribution to golf course superintendents, golf course management, Geoponics are countless. He gets his name Dr. Turf Paint because he is the lead specialist when it comes to using colorants to enhance turf.
Vaughan led to the popularity of Endurant turf colorants reducing the environmentally costly practice of overseed dramatically over the past 10 years, greatly improving golf's environmental footprint.
"Without Rob (Vaughan) we wouldn't have Endurant. He was part of its development and the first person to use it," said Seevers.
Vaughan helped mix colors in his maintenance shed more than 10 years ago. After applying the colorant as the first Endurant user, Pinehurst No. 2 quickly asked for a chance to use the colorant. Since then, he has continued to help educate and spread the popularity of Endurant.
Superintendents, Geoponics and turf professionals across the country were eager to support Vaughan and his family during a time of need.
