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PLEASANT GROVE — Pleasant Grove High School's biggest fan just turned 40, and the community recently came together to celebrate with pizza, cupcakes, dancing and a lot of smiles.
Vaughn Silva came into this world on Feb. 1, 1982, and was not expected to live long, according to his sister, Jade Nygren. Not only was Silva born with Down syndrome, but with two holes in his heart.
"Vaughn is my older brother, and the second oldest of five kids," Nygren said. "When he was born, he had lots of challenges that came with him, and doctors said that they didn't expect him to live past double digits,"
One nurse who was at the hospital the day he was born recognized how special Silva was, and it prompted her to write his mother a note that she has kept all these years.
"You are going to feel left out at times, laughed at and loved," the note reads in part. "Expect it all. Your job is to help people feel good about life, to be thankful for what they can do, and not sorrowful for what they can't do."
As the years have gone on, however, not only has Silva defied the odds by living decades worth of double digits, but he has overcome many of the challenges of being different by doing just what the note said: Helping people feel good about life, to have gratitude, and not to be sorrowful.
Pam Blackhurst, who met Silva at local sporting events that her children were a part of, knows what it feels like to experience Silva's ability to help people through their trials.
"One day, Vaughn was over at my house, and my husband and I were arguing over something silly, and Vaughn stepped in and made us hold hands," Blackhurst recalled. "He told me to look at my husband, and then he grabbed my husband's face, and made us both say, 'I love you, I miss you, I'm sorry,' and told us to write each other a love note."
According to family and friends, Silva is also known for his "beautiful uppercase handwriting with no spaces," often writing notes of encouragement to the local high school coaches and athletes. It is in this environment where Silva thrives, and where he has been able to "help people feel good about life."
Blackhurst recalled a time recently when Silva wrote a note to a coach who recently lost his dad, and even cried with him during his loss.
"Vaughn and that coach have a very special bond," she said.
The town's biggest local sports fan
While Silva is known around the community for his kindness, most would not know him if it weren't for recreational and high school sports. According to his sister, Silva has always been a fan of all things high school sports and events. From dancing to volleyball and everything in between, Silva would find a way to be there to watch.
"Vaughn is a huge Pleasant Grove High School fan," Nygren said. "He goes to every sporting event possible. They even save a place for him on the bus, and he has his own chair at the game and everything. Even if he can't get a ride, he will find a way to get to the game."
One of Silva's friends, Jill Smith, spoke about her first time meeting Vaughn and how it was at a sporting event that soon led to her being one of his many chauffeurs.
"We have taken Vaughn to many sporting events with us, and even if he can't find a ride, he will walk there because it means that much to him to be there," Smith said.
Smith was quick to say that Silva isn't just a spectator at the games, but often the life of the party.
"He is a hilarious dancer," Smith said. "He will get out there and get the crowd going. People really love Vaughn."
Celebrating Vaughn
According to friends and family, Vaughn lives for his birthday. In fact, his sister said that his birthday is part of his introduction.
"When Vaughn introduces himself, he always says, 'My name is Vaughn Silva and my birthday is Feb. 1,'" Nygren said.
That introduction must have stuck with Smith and Blackhurst because they decided to have a 40th birthday party for their friend.
"For the past five years, I have been having a little surprise birthday party for Vaughn at my house," Smith said. "It has been really fun because he always knows about the surprise, but makes us do the whole surprise thing."
Smith said that each year, Vaughn has her husband take him out to get ice cream, and then he will come back to their house and "act surprised."
Although this year, the plan was the same, the surprise really was a surprise.
"Vaughn knew that we were having a surprise party, but he didn't know what we had planned," Smith said. "Instead of it being at my house, we rented out the rec center, and put the word out to the whole community."
According to Smith, the open-house style party had a steady flow of people that she said numbered over 200.
"We had current and former Pleasant Grove high school athletes and students, and even the mayor came," Smith said. "The Provo rugby team came and sang a Polynesian song and brought him a jersey. The P.G. Vikettes came, and there was dancing and music. It was really a great night celebrating Vaughn."
Silva's sister got emotional when talking about the impact her brother has had on the community. She recalled what it was like growing up with him when he didn't have quite as many friends as he does now.
"When we were younger, Vaughn had a hard time," Nygren said. "He was different, and we were really protective of him. Seeing how people are with him now, is really a reflection on the type of person he is. People are starting to mirror the love that he has been giving to them all these years."
