Heart of the matter

Ryan Vaughn scheduled for transplant on Friday

8:25 p.m. July 24, 2025

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

When 16-year-old Ryan Vaughn was first diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at age 13, no one could have imagined just how much his quiet courage – and the warmth of this close-knit community – would come to mean over the next three years.

While Ryan and his parents, Jami and Tracy Vaughn, anxiously awaited news that their son’s life could be saved, the stark reality was that someone else’s loved one would have to be an organ donor.

Jami is in Nashville with Ryan this week. Tracy is in Lynchburg working – with his mind in the hospital room with his wife and son. All the while, they prayed for a miracle.

On Friday morning, Ryan will bravely undergo a heart transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center after a long journey filled with challenges and hospital stays. As he takes this big step toward healing, the caring people of Moore County are rallying around him and his family.

“We’ve all just come together because that’s what this town does,” said Melissa Keen, Tracy's niece. “Ryan’s always been a sweet, loving kid – and now it’s our turn to show him and his parents how loved they are.”

A Life-Changing Moment

Ryan, a member of the Moore County High School band, was 13 years old when he went into cardiac arrest while walking to the gym during the school day. Thanks to the quick actions of school personnel and emergency responders, his life was saved. After being rushed to Vanderbilt, doctors diagnosed him with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – a condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, making it harder to pump blood.

Since then, he’s endured a pacemaker implantation, multiple heart attacks, and procedures that ultimately failed to improve his condition. Just two weeks ago, he was hospitalized again and placed on the heart transplant list. Miraculously, a matching heart became available within two days.

“We’ve been praising God ever since we got the news,” Keen said. “He’s got big plans for Ryan – we just know it.”

Community Events to Show Support

With medical expenses rising and a long road to recovery ahead, Keen and her family have organized two fundraisers to help ease the financial burden for the Vaughns, as they take turns staying by his side in Nashville.

Car Wash and Bake Sale

• Date: Saturday, Aug. 2
• Time: 8 a.m.
• Location: Moore County Co-Op, 1533 Fayetteville Hwy., Lynchburg
• Organized by Keen’s sister, Laquitta, this event will also feature a bake sale with goods donated by community members.

Spaghetti Dinner, Silent Auction, and Live Music

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 6
• Time: 4 p.m.
• Location: Company Distilling, 30 Hiles St., Lynchburg
• Live Music: Yesterday’s Wine, led by Troy Durm, who is helping coordinate auction items.

The dinner and silent auction will feature a diverse range of donated goods and experiences – from family photography sessions and handmade crafts to restaurant vouchers and items from Sky Zone and local businesses. Members from both New Life Baptist and Hickory Hill Baptist churches are preparing salads, desserts, and drinks for the dinner.

Keen says her goal is to raise $10,000 by the end of the evening. “We’re praying for a packed house,” she said. “It’s going to be a true community celebration of support.”

How to Donate

For those who can’t attend the events, donations can still be made:

• Monetary Donations: Deposits can be made directly into Ryan Vaughn’s account at the Jack Daniel’s Credit Union.
• Venmo/PayPal Contributions: Amanda Taylor, a family friend whose daughter was in band with Ryan, is collecting digital donations and depositing them on behalf of the family.

To donate, attend an event, or offer items for the silent auction, contact Melissa Keen via Facebook or join the Band Together for Ryan group on Facebook for updates.

The Road Ahead

After Friday’s transplant, Ryan will remain hospitalized for 4–6 weeks, followed by another six weeks of required residence near the hospital. Once home, he’ll face more time in quarantine before eventually returning to school.

But that day will come.

“He’s been through so much, and he just keeps fighting,” Keen said. “He loves God, he loves music, and he loves this community. We’re all just trying to give back some of the love he’s shown.”