Drawing inspiration from Romans 5:3-4, which reads,
(NIV), we find our motivation
Sabrina Vaughn, the driving force behind the Hatching Hope Foundation, has a deeply personal connection to autism. When one of her triplets received an autism diagnosis in 2012, she was struck by the glaring lack of information and support available in the impoverished and underserved communities of Dallas-Fort Worth. This stark reality ignited a fervor within Sabrina, leading her to establish the non-profit organization known as Hatching Hope Foundation.
I kindly ask you to spare a moment to learn about the life that my son, Keshawn “Champ” Vaughn, lived during his short but impactful nine years. The loss of a child is an agonizing experience that unites all bereaved parents, a pain that is truly unfathomable unless personally endured.
In honor of Keshawn and his indomitable spirit, my continuous work with the Hatching Hope Foundation serves as a testament to my unwavering dedication to providing national support for individuals with autism and disabilities.
In Loving Memory of Keshawn
Keshawn Sergio Vaughn came into this world on January 18, 2010, at Dallas Health Presbyterian, born to Sabrina and Kethern Vaughn Sr. at 3:51 pm. He was Baby C of the Vaughn Triplets, with Sanaa arriving at 3:49 pm and Sebastian at 3:50 pm.
From the very beginning, Keshawn was a force to be reckoned with. His unique spirit shone through as he defied the triplets’ established sleep schedule, perhaps influenced by his two-day delay in coming home from the NICU. Keshawn danced to the beat of his own drum, staying up late with his beloved Uncle Rufus, a recent college graduate. His individuality was embraced by all, as he played joyfully with Sanaa and Sebastian until the age of two when he began to withdraw.
At the age of two and a half, Keshawn was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In response to his diagnosis, Keshawn embarked on an intensive intervention journey to address common autism symptoms. By the age of six, his parents made the decision to enroll him full-time in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy at the Wayman Center in Plano, Texas.
There, Keshawn began to make remarkable progress. Though the road to overcome his extreme behaviors was challenging, Keshawn persevered, making significant advancements in his behavior and speech skills. As Keshawn thrived and overcame many of the challenges associated with autism, an unexpected setback occurred. On June 14, 2018, he received a devastating diagnosis of Osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Despite enduring chemotherapy, limb-saving surgery, radiation, and blood transfusions, Keshawn continued to attend his ABA therapy. His parents affectionately nicknamed him “CHAMP” for his courageous battle against both cancer and severe autism. He pushed himself even on days when he was exhausted. But, eventually, his mobility began to deteriorate rapidly. Tragically, Keshawn lost his life to cancer on August 28, 2019.
