Help Vaughn Thrive: A Call for Support

On Thursday, June 22nd, at 2:34 am, Vaughn made his entrance into the world—a moment filled with anticipation and joy. However, little did his family know that their journey would take an unexpected turn, one that would test their strength, resilience, and love for their precious boy.

Vaughn arrived at 4lbs 12oz, measuring 17 ¾ inches long, and with the determination of a warrior. During pregnancy, he faced the challenge of a single umbilical cord, leading to his arrival three weeks early. Within moments of his first breaths, it became evident that Vaughn had swallowed some fluid, and he was swiftly placed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

His family's world was rocked, and their hearts were heavy with worry as they faced the uncertainty of what lay ahead. To compound their worries, just the following day, Fred lost his job. It felt like life was testing them in every way imaginable.

In the weeks that followed, Vaughn's health took a concerning turn. He struggled to eat and began spitting up green bile. The hospital staff was perplexed by this development, and in an emergency decision, Vaughn was transferred to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles via ambulance.

There, Vaughn and his family prepared for a major surgery, initially believed to be due to a bowel malrotation. However, the truth was even more extraordinary and challenging—Vaughn had a perforated appendix. In the history of CHLA, this surgery had rarely been performed on an 8-day-old preemie.

Fast forward 11 weeks, and the family's journey has been a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges. Vaughn had his appendix removed, he's battled reflux issues, causing oxygen and heart rate dips, along with digestion problems, and most recently, caught pneumonia. Many times, the doctors couldn't pinpoint the exact cause or treatment, and it felt like they were navigating uncharted waters.

Through it all, his family has been unwavering advocates for Vaughn, believing in his perfect, whole, and healthy future. They are at the hospital every day ensuring that he receives the love and care needed to continue growing on a healthy path. As of now, they're working on a plan that will allow them to continue his care at home, including a feeding tube, where he can grow, thrive, and be surrounded by the love of his family, especially his eager sister who is ready to spend time with her buddy.

This journey has stretched the family beyond what they thought was possible, testing their emotional and physical limits. They've had to find strength deep within themselves to be there for Vaughn, his sister Vera, and for one another.

Their deepest desire is to bring Vaughn home, where they can all be together as a family once again.

We humbly ask for your support during this challenging time. Any donations you feel led to give will go a long way in helping them provide the care and love Vaughn needs to thrive. Your contribution will mean the world to them as they continue this uncharted territory towards Vaughn's full recovery.

Any unused donations will be given to the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles to support other families in need. Thank you for your generosity, love, and support.