RCC Alumni

A Gift of Time: Former RCC Student to Donate Liver to Her Instructor

Sometimes the people who make the greatest difference in our lives are the ones we least expect.

For Tiffany Taylor, that person was once a student sitting in her classroom at Rappahannock Community College (RCC). Today, Meaghan Koehler is a registered nurse—and the former RCC nursing student is preparing to give her former instructor a remarkable gift: a portion of her liver and the possibility of more time with her family.

For Tiffany, teaching future nurses at RCC is a full-circle moment.

“It just means so much to me to give back to the students and to just help them grow, help them learn,” Tiffany said. But when the lesson ends, the RCC adjunct nursing instructor faces a challenge no syllabus could prepare her for.

In 2013, Tiffany was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, a rare form of liver disease. She later was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Over the years, her health continued to decline, bringing hospitalizations, procedures and medication changes. Eventually, Tiffany learned she needed a living liver donor.

“I felt like it would be a burden on someone, so I didn’t want to do that,” Tiffany said. “I just kept it to myself until finally it was hospitalization after hospitalization, procedures and medication changes, so finally I listened to the Lord, and he said it’s time.”

In March, Tiffany shared her story in hopes of finding a living donor. Her story eventually reached Meaghan.

“I was just scrolling on Facebook, and I went past her story that had been shared from a newspaper,” Meaghan said. “I read it, and she’s a mom, just like me. We’re the same age, she has a kid, you know, and I had to try.”

Meaghan knew Tiffany as an instructor, but their connection went beyond the classroom.

“When Meaghan was in the program, I subbed for her class that she had in lecture, so she was there. I would talk to her then and then I would see her at the hospital when I went with students,” Tiffany said.

Years after Meaghan sat in Tiffany’s nursing lecture, the former student found herself in a position to give her former instructor a second chance at a healthier future.

In April, unbeknownst to Tiffany, Meaghan applied to become Tiffany’s living liver donor. She turned out to be a perfect match.

“I am not doing this because I think I'm a hero,” she said. “I'm doing this because I'm a mom who looked at another mom and thought, if I have the ability to help give her more time with her children, how could I not try.”

For Meaghan, the gift she is giving Tiffany is ultimately a gift of time.  “It’s a chance, it’s time. It’s more Christmases, it’s more birthdays, it’s more arguments about what’s for dinner,” she said. “It’s just time and she gets more of that.”

When Meaghan told Tiffany she was a match, Tiffany was overwhelmed with relief and gratitude.  “When Meaghan told me, I was like, oh Lord, you don’t know how relieving that was,” Tiffany said.

On Thursday, October 8, the two nurses are scheduled to undergo surgery at UVA Health in Charlottesville. Meaghan will donate a portion of her liver to Tiffany, beginning a new chapter for both women.

Tiffany is a wife, mother and daughter, with a husband of 11 years, DJ, a son, Liam, and a bonus daughter, Nyah. For her, the transplant represents the possibility of more time with the people she loves—and more of the everyday moments that make up a life.

Both women are expected to be out of work for at least six weeks, potentially longer depending on their recoveries. Their families will also face travel, medical and household expenses as they navigate the weeks following surgery.

A fundraiser organized by Ellen Koehler, Meaghan’s mother-in-law and Dean of RCC’s Health Sciences program, is helping support both families during that time.

But the story is about more than the financial challenges of recovery. It is about two nurses, two families and a connection that began in an RCC classroom and came full circle years later.

For Tiffany and Meaghan, their shared nursing journey has taken them somewhere neither could have anticipated: from instructor and student to donor and recipient.

And their story carries a message Meaghan hopes others will remember. “You never know who is going to need something, whether it be blood or an organ, or anything,” she said. “You have the opportunity to make a huge impact in somebody’s life.”

For Tiffany, the gift from her former student may mean something as simple—and as profound—as more time.

More Christmases. More birthdays. More family dinners. More life.
Click here if you would like to donate.

Talent Meets Opportunity: A Student’s Persistence Pays Off

When Rappahannock Community College (RCC) alumnus Shane McElhenney walked across the stage at the historic Altria Theater on May 8, 2026, to receive his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Kinetic Imaging from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, it marked far more than a college graduation. It was the culmination of years of perseverance, creativity, and support from a community that believed in his talent.

Shane’s artistic journey began with uncertainty. As a high school student at West Point High School in 2021, he was unsure what path to pursue after graduation. While he had a passion for art, many encouraged him to consider more traditional career options that seemed more practical or readily available in the region.

But RCC staff members saw something different.

Through RCC’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program and the Office of Career and Transition Services (OCATS), Shane began exploring his future with encouragement to pursue his strengths and creativity. A first-generation college student raised by a single mother, Shane faced financial concerns and personal obstacles, including his mother’s serious health challenges during the process. Still, with guidance and support, he continued moving forward.

He participated in RCC’s WIOA, PowerUp, and TRIO programs, gaining confidence through career exploration, college coursework, and mentorship. Along the way, Shane built a portfolio, refined his artistic voice, and connected with mentors who encouraged him to pursue his dream rather than view art as simply a hobby.

After transferring to VCU, Shane flourished. “Attending RCC first prepared me mentally and financially for VCU,” Shane said. “It was a great way for me to see what college would be like, get some of my prerequisites out of the way, and find out what I wanted to do.”

His yearlong BFA Capstone project was selected for inclusion in “Stranded in the Edit,” the School of the Arts’ annual senior screening event hosted at the Institute for Contemporary Art. The showcase featured outstanding student work in video, animation, and multimedia art.

Those who supported Shane from the beginning say his success reflects the power of believing in students and helping them discover their potential.

“Shane thrived at RCC and then at VCU thanks to the connections and support he received here,” said Theresa Sirles, OCATS Program Manager, who first met Shane while representing RCC at his high school. “Every milestone he achieved reinforced that students succeed when they are encouraged to pursue their passions and supported along the way.”

Today, Shane’s story continues to inspire others — including his mother, who is now considering enrolling at RCC herself after witnessing the support and opportunities her son received.

For Shane, the road to success may have been unconventional, but it proved that passion, persistence, and the right support system can open extraordinary doors. “If you want to go to college but aren’t sure what you want to do, I recommend starting at RCC,” he added 

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