In the first moments following the emergency C-section delivery of his daughter, Adam “Sully” Sullivan sensed something was amiss. He couldn’t quite articulate why, but it was an instinctive feeling. “She just looked like she was screaming for help when she came out of the womb,” he shared in an interview.
Initially spending her early days in the NICU, surrounded by medical equipment and bright lights, Sully’s gut feeling was confirmed. Genetic testing revealed that his daughter, Lily, was born with a rare genetic disorder involving complex duplications of chromosomes 1 and 13. The rarity of her condition meant that doctors couldn’t predict how it would affect her development. They were uncertain if she would achieve basic milestones like walking, talking, or even making eye contact. With no available support groups, Sully and Lily’s mother were left to navigate this journey on their own.
Now ten years old, Lily is a vibrant and loving child who aims to spread joy. She has undergone numerous medical treatments, including heart surgery at age four to address a congenital issue. Despite facing various challenges in areas like feeding, sleep, and social interactions, she continues to amaze Sully with her resilience. “She’s this incredible engine that could,” he remarked, noting her sense of humor won her accolades in school.
At the age of seven, Lily began experiencing seizures. A neurologist prescribed medication that came with significant side effects, leading to weight loss and a drastic change in her personality. Sully described it as if a light had been switched off. It was Lily’s mother who suggested trying CBD oil. Initially skeptical, Sully’s concerns about cannabis stemmed from a limited understanding of its benefits. However, the alternative was losing his daughter. After some deliberation, they decided to transition her off the medication and introduce CBD, which led to remarkable improvements in her seizures, anxiety, and overall well-being.
During a trip to Vermont, Sully visited a hemp farm and made a connection: the very plant that aided his daughter was grown there. At 49, this entrepreneur and former television personality, known for his work with OxiClean, decided to shift gears. He was determined to produce a quality product for Lily, emphasizing that not all CBD brands were suitable for her needs.
He named the hemp farm MONTKUSH, combining “Mont,” which means mountain in French and references Vermont, with “Kush,” a strain of hemp that signifies happiness in Hindi. Thus, MONTKUSH translates to “happy mountain.” Sully aimed to educate the public about hemp cultivation and CBD extraction, striving to dismantle the stigma surrounding this plant and promote its health benefits.
Having previously collaborated with Thom Beers, creator of shows like “Deadliest Catch,” Sully proposed documenting his transition from TV personality to organic farmer. This resulted in the new series “Kings of Hemp,” which premiered earlier this month on VICE TV.
The journey was filled with challenges, from battling unpredictable weather to navigating the pandemic. Despite these hurdles, they achieved organic certification, growing 66,000 plants in their first year and increasing to 75,000 in the second. Feedback from customers has highlighted the positive effects of their CBD on conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and pain management.
What started as a father’s quest to help his daughter evolved into a venture that benefits many. For Sully, stepping out of his comfort zone was daunting, but it was all worthwhile for the sake of his daughter. “No magic happens in the comfort zone,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of progress, even if it’s just a few steps each day.
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Summary
The journey of Adam “Sully” Sullivan, from a TV spokesperson to a dedicated hemp farmer, is a poignant story of love and resilience. After discovering his daughter Lily’s rare genetic disorder, Sully navigated a tumultuous path that led him to embrace CBD as a potential solution for her health challenges. This transformation not only helped his daughter but also sparked a broader mission to educate others about the benefits of hemp. His story is now chronicled in the new VICE TV series “Kings of Hemp.”