LEXINGTON — Less than two weeks after receiving a heart transplant, 21-year-old Ryan Drake of Independence died Tuesday night at University of Kentucky Hospital.

        According to a spokesman at the hospital, Mr. Drake's new heart, transplanted Jan. 28, worked and his body did not reject it. But because of his advanced heart disease, Mr. Drake's organs never recovered and continued to shut down after the transplant, causing his death.

        After receiving a heart, Mr. Drake's condition had stabilized by Jan. 31. Before he received the heart, some of his organs, including his liver and kidneys, had begun to shut down.

        Mr. Drake was diagnosed several years ago with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a thickening of the heart muscle. His condition worsened in December.

        Mr. Drake was a student at Northern Kentucky University and the son of lawyer David L. Drake and Kathy Drake of Independence.

       For information on becoming an organ donor, call LifeCenter at (800) 981-5433 or Kentucky Donor Affiliates at (800) 525-3456.

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