COMMUNITY RALLIES TO SUPPORT ONE OF ITS OWN.

Byline: Amy Raisin Staff Writer

CASTAIC - Fifteen years as a sheriff's deputy has taught Andy Vaughan that communication is 90 percent of the job - a fact he rarely thought about until a degenerative brain disorder began robbing him of his speech.

In the eight months since Vaughan was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - the fatal ailment also known as Lou Gehrig's disease - the husband and father has switched from working as a patrol officer to a station duty for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's department.

``Deputies are control freaks, so losing control is hard,'' he said at his home Friday, forming each word slowly and with concentration. ``The worst part is when you talk to someone and they shake their head (yes), but they don't understand what you're saying.''

Only the voice is an indication anything is wrong with the 37-year-old law enforcement officer, who said he started noticing a speech slur in May.

It wasn't until August that Vaughan and his wife, Shelly, learned the unusual symptom was the onset of ALS, a disease that often is fatal within five years of diagnosis.

``At first it was just about trying to get a grip, thinking, oh my gosh. We were just very concerned about the kids,'' Shelly said. ``But I don't know how people make it through these things without the Lord. He's been so visible from Day One.''

Daughter Sarah Chiurazzi, an 18-year-old college student and member of the sheriff's Explorer program, said prayer has helped her family through a tough year but also has shown her how scary the future is for her 9-year-old brother, Austin.

``At night when I tuck him in he'll say his prayers. He starts with simple things like, 'Thank you, God, for not letting me get benched today and finishing my homework.'

``But then he gets kind of quiet and takes a breath, and he thanks God for his Daddy - `Please help my daddy feel better,''' she said, tears streaming down her face.

But the family's strength fortifies even the most difficult days, and Vaughan's colleagues and the community have come around to help, financially and emotionally.

That support continues at 8:30 a.m. today with a 5K run-walk on Valencia Boulevard and Citrus Street to raise money for Vaughan and Mike Johnson, a Santa Clarita resident also living with ALS.

Sheriff Lee Baca and a crowd of about 2,000 are expected at the fund- raiser.

``I've been a part of these things for other people, but I never thought it would be (for) me,'' Vaughan said. ``The law enforcement community has been so supportive.''

Vaughan still lives his life to the fullest and hasn't let the disease affect his watchful eye, he said. Though in plainclothes, his gun is strapped to his hip and a sheriff's patrol car sits outside.

For young Austin, growing up under his dad's watchful eye has made him feel protected, but he admits their roles in the family are changing.

``I help him to talk, like in the drive-through,'' he said. ``It's kind of weird, (but) I feel like my friends understand.''

THE FACTS

A 5K run-walk will be held today, starting at 8:30 a.m. on Valencia Boulevard and Citrus Street, to raise money for Andy Vaughan and Mike Johnson, two Santa Clarita residents suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

(color) Sheriff's Deputy Andy Vaughan, 37, gets support from his wife, Shelly; daughter, Sarah, 18; and son, Austin, 9.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News

Box: The Facts (see text)