Kauth uses AED treatment to save life at Mercer Oaks
Any golfer or auto mechanic knows that alignment matters.
Astrologists and cosmologists swear that Jupiter and Mars connected on some celestial plane influences life’s ebb and flow.
So, on June 26, life aligned Mercer County golf pro, Bobby Kauth and parttime employee and avid golfer, Harry Alpaugh, on an unimaginable path.
Alpaugh, 64, headed toward death after he collapsed on Hole No. 7 at Mercer Oaks West GC. Kauth, trained for Automated External Defibrillator (AED) operation and CPR, accompanied by county employee, Sean Hartman, raced out to the course where they found Alpaugh bluefaced and fading.
Gerry Patterson, another county employee, provided assistance as Kauth administered AED treatment.
“I set up the machine and the voice activated instruction said to shock him. His body lifted a little and we could see that the shock had an effect. Next, I started CPR. Just kept pressing on his chest,” Kauth recalled.
Alpaugh spent approximately five weeks in hospital, endured double-bypass surgery, and arrived home 12 days ago.
“I don’t remember much about that day, except I know that I was playing pretty well,” Alpaugh said. “I remember bending over to pick up my golf ball and that’s it.”
“Next thing I know I’m in an ambulance. Disoriented and then in the hospital.”
Kauth and Alpaugh called the experience “life-changing,” although the head golf professional had already experienced a similar situation after being diagnosed with a brain tumor in March 2015.
Kauth missed about three full months of work which offered an epiphany.
“I think the message was for me to slow down,” Kauth said. “I had things, priorities out of whack before the diagnosis. It was something like work No. 1, family No. 2 and God No. 3. I had been a religious and spiritual person for much of my life but that had changed during the past seven years.
“My life needed realignment. I don’t want to get all religious but I needed to put God at No. 1. Family No. 2. And work, No. 3. I’m Catholic now. I say the Rosary everyday. I’m comfortable with where my life is, happy that I have a wonderful wife (Sandra) and two fantastic daughters.”
Kauth said his Alpaugh moment injected his life with spiritual adrenaline. Imagine, a man fighting for his life heading out to Hole No. 7 to save another.
“It’s amazing, right?” Alpaugh said. “Bobby Kauth hired me as an employee and he ends up saving my life. I keep telling him that I don’t know how to repay him. If not for Bobby and the other guys, we would not be having this conversation.”
Alpaugh, Kauth and other Mercer County employees have been trained in AED operation and CPR.
“I’ve never had to use it before,” Kauth noted. “Harry and I have spoken on the phone and when I do get my mind around everything that happened, it’s just goose bumps. Goose bumps to think that we helped to save another person’s life.”
“I truly believe that have been part of God’s plan. I’m just happy to have still be around.”
Alpaugh offered a similar response. “Yes. It’s good to have another day. Great to wake up in the morning and still be around,” Alpaugh said.
Alpaugh dreams of his return to the golf course and playing his first post-double-bypass round of golf.
“Hey, there’s probably a lot worse ways to go than playing golf. It would not be such a bad thing,” Alpaugh joked.
“I’m glad to have a loving wife, family and friends. Nothing gets taken for granted. I have a new perspective on just about everything.”