March 24, 2024 • 27 mins
Family looking out for family is something done out of love. And when a family member is in need, they are truly family indeed. Our guests today personify family looking out for family in a situation that is inevitable for us all. Navigating health and medical issues is a journey none of us should take alone: Siblings Vera and Rich Sawyer, share their experiences taking that journey. Listen in as they not only share their experiences, but they also enlighten others and have produced a documentary that is a must see.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:19):
Hey, welcome to the book ofthat radio show. I'm proud to Robert
Benson. It's always before we getstarted, we want to say thank you
to Jehovah, thanking for sun,Jesus Christ, thinking for our families,
thinking for work and our ability todo the things we're able to do.
Book at that radio show, andI'm hanging out, of course with Engineer
Extraordinary, my main man. What'sup? What's up? Brother? As
I said, it's a little toasty. I know it's cold in some parts
(00:42):
of the country. I've been traveling. I went to London, I went
to la and it was cold outthere. It was hot over there.
Now I'm in the middle, soI'm feeling good. Brother. So you
had a spot of tea? Isthat what you had over there? In
my mouth? I did has somecheery. But before we move on,
(01:07):
it's appropriate to say happy holidays toour listeners and nask A Network Family definitely
wants to extend holiday wishes to youand your families. But today is a
very very exceptional show and it's aboutfamily. But more importantly, it's about
health in the medical care system.I mean, the unfortunate thing today is
is that the medical care system hasgone from the care about care to the
(01:30):
care about money. Well, ifyou don't have money, you can't get
the appropriate care or necessarily the bestcare. You can get some, but
not the best care. Today,we have some siblings on who are personified
examples of family love. So withoutany further ado, we're going to let
them talk to us about what theirexperiences. We're dealing with this fractured in
(01:56):
vacuumsh if you will medical system,so they only do. We're going to
say hello to Vera and Richard Sawyer, good afternoon and good evening to youtubo
from their affiliate. Yes, goodafternoon and good evening. We're good,
We're good, and how are you. We're doing wonderful. We're so glad
you're here. And like I said, thank you. This, oh absolutely,
(02:17):
this thing we want to talk toy'all about is very very emotional on
some level. So I'm going tostep away and let you ver start the
conversation about what it is you didto help your brother and share with our
listeners some of the things you didand what exactly it is that we want
to convey to him. Okay,I was informed by my brother rich that
(02:43):
he needed a immediate open heart surgeryfrom a diagnosis of a thoracic aortic aneurism,
and the aneurysm was so large itwas leaning on his aortic valve,
which also needed to be prepared andin the immediate of course, I guess
she can't imagine. I was devastated, and I didn't handle it well.
(03:04):
Once I got myself together through prayerwith my mom and my sister, who
was also present, because he toldus together, I basically became his advocate.
So what we did initially was Iwent with him to his pre surgery
appointments and then I was basically hiscaregiver throughout his surgery, you know,
(03:29):
well not during his surgery, butafter his surgery, and unfortunately, he
had some unforeseen things happen, andhis situation kind of became a little extreme.
But you know, thank god,he pulled through, and when he
came home, I actually moved itwith him for what about a month or
so. And I have to saythat, you know, at the time,
(03:53):
my brother was forty nine, andyou know, you hear about serious
surgery like that, and my momwas eighty four at the time. This
was in twenty twenty one, andyou know, we were just like,
oh no, he's got to makeit to fifty and beyond, you know.
And it was just definitely a blessingand a beautiful thing that everything went
(04:15):
so well. And his surgery wasdone at Jefferson University Hospital here in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and I'd have to saythat his experience was excellent. My
brother has excellent benefits and he hassome of the top docs you know in
the cardiac field, specifically for thatparticular surgery, and we have a rapport
(04:40):
with them. They were very theyexplained everything, you know. So the
experience wasn't good. What happened wasn'tgood, of course, but the experience,
they made it as comfortable as theycould. Yeah, for the family,
you know, for me, especiallyfor me, right and for him,
(05:00):
which he'll be able to tell youhisself. But I'm very verbal,
and I'm going to ask a lotof questions, you know, and I
would ask tell anyone to ask alot of questions. Ask questions inquired.
If you don't understand something, askand if you still don't understand, ask
more. You know, don't justaccept something because it's coming from the doctor.
(05:23):
If you don't understand some of theterms, some of the big words.
You have to advocate for the personthat cannot advocate for themselves. At
that time, you mentioned advocacy versusbeing a caregiver. Can you kind of
explain to our audience what the differencebetween the two is, because you did
say you did some caregiving as well. They're actually probably married. They're very
(05:46):
similar. Advocacy is more something thatyou do out of love and caring,
where as caregiving. Not to saythat's not out of love and caring.
But I don't want people to getconfused with caregiver as I was hired to
do something. This is my babybrother, so you know, I was
(06:08):
able to advocate for him as anadvocate, which is now I am a
heart health advocate versus and give care. If that makes sense. I'm kind
of explain it, Okay, yes, yes, so yeah, it was.
It's really both. It's really both, but not as a title as
a caregiver. I like to considermyself an advocate and just you know,
(06:33):
just love for my brother. Yeah, you know, just a movie now,
now, would you say that acaregiver is a person who actually participates
in the recovery or in the careof a person, so advocate, you
do things that maybe they can't dofor themselves, or you find different resolutions.
(06:56):
But as a caregiver, you're actuallythere physically but in the healing process.
Would you say that, Oh,yes, absolutely, I think you
explained it better than me. Honestly, that's perfect. That's it right there,
They're moved. You need it,absolutely know. The things that's very
interesting about all of this is afew shows ago ed and I had a
(07:19):
geriatric doctor on and he said thatthe typical family dynamic and most of the
people who are later of people whokind of stand out and do the kind
of things that you're doing, arethe oldest sister of the family. So
you're kind of, you know,playing right into that role if you will.
It's amazing how statistically that tends tobe the case. But where we
(07:39):
can take a quick break and whenwe get back, we want to talk
a little bit more about not justthe advocacy, but the inherent care and
love that goes with the things thatyou did, and how it's spinned off
into an organization that you all haveset up. Let this book. At
that radio show, I'm doctor RobertBenson with my main man at the ice
g and we're talking to Richard andVera Sawyer about a very very sensitive topic
(08:00):
and we'll be right back see why. Listeners from over one hundred and fifty
countries around the world follow the Bookof Dad Radio Show, joined doctor Robert
Benson and Eddig as the chat withspecial guests who share their stories and information
that will change your life. Watchand listen on Life and Spirit online dot
com, or subscribe to the Bookof Dad Radio Show on Apple, Podcast,
(08:22):
Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever youget your podcast. Brought to you
by the NASCA Network. Hey,welcome back to the Book at Dad Radio
Show with doctor Robert Benson and meEddieg. And we were getting it into
(08:43):
some deep, deep conversation with richand Vera about his situation health wise and
how she was his advocate and caregiver. But something else that took place through
this journey was Vera decided to documentthis journey as well. Right, very
so tell us about that. Iwas able to document Rich's entire journey beginning
(09:11):
on the day before his surgery,right, Rich, So, the day
before his surgery, I actually didhis interview the night before his surgery,
rather and I just felt like havinga real life journey or real life example
(09:33):
to show people about not only whatthe person goes through, but also what
the family goes through. So itwas definitely more from my point of view,
and I just learned a lot goingthrough that journey with him. And
I just keep mentioning advocacy because youknow, I guess if it was such
(09:54):
an if it was an award,an advocacy award, I believe that I
would have got it. The doctorsare just like we've never we've never,
you know, things that we takefor granted from like our mom and just
how we were raised and how weare as people that look, if your
loved one is going through something,you're supposed to be there. You're supposed
(10:15):
to, but they're like, it'speople that don't have anyone that you know,
don't get a visitor. They comingin for a heart surgery, they
don't even get a visitor. Sothis documentary just really shows what that looks
like. And I, you know, yes, me, because I was
there, you know, all thetime. But I also had a chat
(10:37):
going with people, a text thatI would send out to everyone to keep
them abreast of everything going on.And we have a tree of life,
you know, from prayers and justyou know, genuine concern from family and
friends, and you know, thedocumentary just pretty much shows you a little
(11:00):
little bit of everything of what wenton. Rich hasn't watched it yet.
He's not ready to watch it.You know. I definitely was able to
capture some very I want to say, you know, he had tubes and
different things that I don't know ifhe's ready to see himself like that.
(11:24):
And you know, I respect thatI was able to interview his cardiologists.
I was able to interview his surgeon, doctor Plestis, his cardiologists is doctor
Brevetti, and I was able tointerview his cardiac nurse. And it was
what they said was amazing because alot more African American miles younger. You
(11:46):
know, like I said, mybrother was forty nine, but even in
their thirty some earlier are suffering fromthese thoracic aortic aneurysms. And it is
a silent killer. So you know, Richie just lucked out. I mean,
it's called the rich the Rich Sawyerstory, The life COVID nineteen saved
because had my brother and I hadCOVID he would have would not have known
(12:11):
that he had the aneurysm, becausebefore he went back the work, he
decided, let me go get afull exam. You know, I don't
want to go back to work andcome back out and whatever. And that's
they gave him an echo cardiogram andthat's what detected the problem. He had
absolutely no symptoms. I did notknow. I did not know that my
condition was that dire and it wasdouble the size. His aneurysm was double
(12:37):
the size of what your ajoritic,your ajordic AJORDI should be an interesting note
is I would have passed the physicaland a stress tests in that condition.
Wow. You know the thing that'sinteresting about this is that not only did
you do the documentary, you starteda new organization that you're sporting the digs
(12:58):
on. Yeah, your dapper therewith the heart. Talk to us about
that a little bit. If Ican't say one more thing about the documentary,
I we have original music throughout thedocumentary and I made Rich do a
rap was this was this was?This was after the surgery, right,
(13:22):
So I had that's a whole story. That's a story. But I just
wanted to be and I would sendit to y'all. I have to tell
you about this. I have totell you about this. She was telling
me about the story, I meanabout the song up until we went in
the studio. There was no rehearsal, no nothing. She called me.
(13:46):
It was like rich meet me downat the studio, like, okay,
I get to the studio. Shehad me a piece of paper and was
like okay, no wrap, putme in the boot engineer and everything.
Yeah, I'm telling you that thecreator was with me because I was able
(14:09):
to do it, and because Ireally didn't want to do it. He
didn't I really didn't want to doit. He loved me. It just
worked out. If you was toask me to duplicate that right now,
to save my life, I wouldbe up in heaven. Well, let
me say this. He did anamazing job. I really am going to
(14:31):
make sure that I send that overto you. We did a video and
everything any want to do the videoeither. I made him not only do
the song, but we did avideo. So the video exactly like the
background was like cloudy and stuff likeI was, you know, on a
cloud, and yeah, that's true. True. You know, she did
(14:52):
everything, and you know it wasa fun experience and just it was just
a lot for me at that time. This is well, I'm sure you
guys are going to get it tous, but this is this is great
stuff because sibling love is amazing.I mean the family. I mean,
the closest people I have been toin my life was my sister. And
(15:16):
you know that your sister and yourbrother. I mean, it's like that
sibling love is something that just can'tbe substituted for you know, and I
think that you all are just anexample is personified, if you will.
But thank you now, you're welcome, and thank you for sharing this with
us. And we'll make sure ourlisteners get to hear the rest of it
and you and see the document anda those kinds of documentary and all those
(15:37):
types of things too. But thisbook at that radio show, let's take
a quick break and when we comeback, we'll touch on the sibling family
thing in the fact that not everybodyhas the benefits that that can can that
can have this kind of procedure done, because the medical system has got to
the point where it really isn't aboutensuring safety and health, it's about money,
(15:58):
and that that's the real problem.That we're dealing with these days.
As a matter of fact, it'sthe platform of which a lot of these
politicians are running. But this bookat that radio show of doctor Rebert Benson,
aig Vera and Richard. Thank y'all, we'll be right back. You
have something special, You have greatnessin you. Hello, I'm Less Brown,
missus, Mamie Brown's baby boy.I want you to spread the word
(16:18):
to your family members and friends tolisten to Less Brown Greatness Radio dot com.
Absolutely, and let me share withyou why we're going to be focusing
on positive things. Because whatever youfocus on the longest becomes the strongest.
And now more than ever, whenthe suicide rate has increased over thirty three
(16:38):
percent, when the suicide rate ofyoung children between five and eleven has doubled,
people feeling hopeless and stressed out andpowerless. We need programming that can
bring out the greatness in them,and that's what we will be focused on.
When you listen, it will bean experience, will transform your life.
(17:00):
Let's Brown Greatness Radio dot com.That's my story and I'm sticking to
it. Hey, and we're rightback to doctor Robert Benson with the book
that radio show with a main man, idiis g and we're talking to Richard
and Vera Sawyer and guys, thisstory really resignates with me and it strikes
(17:21):
an emotional cord, which I'll touchon later. But when we left off,
we were talking about the fact thatnot everyone has healthcare or appropriate healthcare,
and Richard and Vera are going toexplain even more about how this situation
was almost isolated you, if Ican use that word, it makes it
(17:41):
God sent, if you will,so Vera talk to us a little bit
about that your organization and the factthat not everybody has a healthcare and how
that issue, if you will,rolled into everything that's happened with you too.
Rich and I decided to become hearthealth advocates, and we just took
(18:03):
it a step further by. Ifound it every heart becounts. And my
main reason was because when when mybrother, the test that my brother was
given was an echo cardiogram, Ialso sound of the heart, and had
he not had the benefit that hehad, he would not have been able
to get that particular test, whichwould have meant they would not have found
(18:29):
it. And I guarantee you hewould not be saying here today, Hey,
you and I had that test,and you know that that was devastating
for me to know that that testis that important and that is not something
that's given annually. It's also notsomething that's given to younger people and is
oftentime not covered. So for theuninsured and underinsured, we are in the
(18:55):
process of raising funds as one ofour initiatives to help those underinsured and uninsured
people receive an echo cardiogram. Andthe second thing that we found out or
that I know, is that seventyseven percent of the population does not have
dental coverage and you need, wehave to be clear by dentists to receive
(19:18):
heart surgery. And so we also, yes, you have to have a
dental exam, you have to becleared by a dentist to make sure you
don't have any type gum disease,any type period donal disease in order to
get a surgery for more than justheart but definitely hard because that's your blood,
you know, the bloodstream, andbecause so many people don't have that,
(19:40):
the uninsured again and the underinsured,we're also in the process of raising
funds for those people. And that'swhat every heart beat counts is all about
like im you know, I know, doctor Benson, you know you went
through a tough time, and Ijust really just want to say, like
I can imagine, like I can'timagine I am my brother. I can't
(20:06):
imagine it. Yeah, I appreciatethat. You know. The thing that's
amazing about this is that why Iam so happy for you. I'm a
little envious because, as you justmentioned, I wasn't able to do what
you were able to do for yourbrother for my sister. So we can
talk a little more about that lateron. But the thing that I really
(20:26):
find interesting is is that you know, it's kind of pick it up a
little bit, that you know,everything that you do, your sister or
your brother has to approve it,right, so and then you you took
that to the next level. Imean, it's it's totally amazing. I
know Ed's sister, Sheelle, Sheand I, I mean we're family,
but Shelle and I graduated from highschool together, so I knew that she
(20:48):
kept him in line. Am Iright ed? But anyway, talk to
us about what we can expect tosee from healthy heart or if I if
I pronounce it correctly in the future, please, okay. So another initiative
that we have for every rd becountsis we give this gift, so it
(21:15):
comes with a button, it's abeer comes in. This is how it's
presented, and this is for people. I'm I'm I've partnered with I'm a
veteran, So I partner with theVA Hospital here in Philadelphia, and there
are a lot of cardio people whoare suffering from cardiac ellmans who have no
(21:37):
family or friends. So what wedo. They allow me to go in
and give them a gift just tokind of uplift their spirits and you know,
brighten their day. So that's anotherone of our initiatives. Again.
We we definitely want to help theuninsured and under insured with echo cardiograms and
UH dental exams and dental clearances.We we also raise awareness about heart disease
(22:03):
and we promote our healthy lifestyle foranyone. So we partner also with one
hundred black men. They have aparent Academy and they they allow me to
have consultants come in whether it's fornutrition, movement, so we'll have a
zoomba. We just did yoga,so we also do that. Next year
(22:26):
We're going to have we're going tooffer a CPR and AED course. My
secondary target. So our first targetis twenty five to fifty five men and
women. Our secondary target is youthin sports. We want to make sure
that those coaches are CPR certified,especially in urban and underserved communities, because
(22:48):
they need to know how to doCPR and they need to know how to
operate in an AED machine and havean AED machine on hand at all times.
And yeah, we're going to havewe want to have line dance parties
as well as something else for ourmovement classes. We have a Million's Monday
Meals on Instagram. Every Monday.We offer a heart healthy recipe and we
(23:15):
are oh and I am I'm notreally supposed to announce it, but I
hopefully will be a woman of Impactfor the go Red for Women American Heart
Association, so for next year.So we definitely have a lot going on.
What do you do anything? Soyeah, we are I'm just I'm
(23:41):
just, you know, proud tobe the vehicle through which all this is
happening. Wow. Yeah, youknow, I mean, it was an
unfortunate situation for me, but youknow, we try to take a positive
out of a negative and it's definitelya post. Yes, and his temperament
is amazing. He held us togetherin all he was going through. He
(24:06):
held us together because he was soit's you know, just like so positive.
Look, this happened, let's getit done. So on and so
forth. We can only be butso upset and said, if the person
is going through it, it's like, look, it's going to be alright,
it's whatever itself to know me,yeah, to really understand. But
you know, yeah, it wasa bad situation. But you know,
(24:29):
I just take it like anything else, you know, let's get through it.
Yes, that's favor. Amen.Hey, well let me say this
real quick, vera thank you foryour service. I'm a veteran as well.
For your service, you know,no doubt, no doubt me too.
But here's the thing, and that'sthe one thing we learned in the
(24:51):
military is to take care of eachother because we often, I mean we
often find ourselves in situations where ifwe don't, somebody's gonna die. I
hate to say it like that,but family, the family, listen here.
We could talk about this forever,okay, I mean this is a
touching subject. I mean, well, but we really are happy that you
(25:12):
came to get up with us here. We know we want to make sure
that people know how to reach outand find you, guys, but it's
just another great show for an audience. How about that edit you they?
I agree, And I just wantto say to our viewers and listeners to
really take a moment to appreciate yourfamily members. Appreciate you know, the
(25:38):
ones that are here, and pickup the phone and call your brother or
your sister. Sell them I lovethem, because you know, we take
people for granted, not in anegative way, but you just think that
they'll always be there and you justdon't want to lose somebody and say I
never told them why they were here. How I felt. You know,
(26:02):
you know, brother and sister,we get along, we fight, we
laugh sometimes, just say it.Just tell them, just say you love
them and you appreciate them, especiallynow during the season. Absolutely. Yes,
yes, Well, guys, LikeI said before, this is a
really really sensitive topic for me,and it's difficult to articulate because I just
(26:26):
recently lost my sister Karen Benson andwent through similar I appreciate that I went
through a similar scenario with her thatwe were trying to do exactly what you
were doing. You were advocating,you were trying to make sure that the
appropriate testing and such was done,but unfortunately it didn't. I wasn't successful
(26:49):
in doing that for her. Sobut all I can do right now is
say, you know, I enjoyedher when she was here, but to
go back, I said, Iappreciate every conversation we've had, you know,
I just want to tell her,Karen, I love you and the
next time. But this has beenthe book of that radio show doctor Robert
Benson, Eddie, ih G.Thank you so much for me, Amen
(27:11):
and Vera and Rich will be intouch with you guys real soon, I'm
sure. But okay, thank youso much, God blessed, Thank you
God you too. And like itsaid, tell your family you love them
and happy holidays. Some book ofthat d
Hey, welcome to the book ofthat radio show. I'm proud to Robert
Benson. It's always before we getstarted, we want to say thank you
to Jehovah, thanking for sun,Jesus Christ, thinking for our families,
thinking for work and our ability todo the things we're able to do.
Book at that radio show, andI'm hanging out, of course with Engineer
Extraordinary, my main man. What'sup? What's up? Brother? As
I said, it's a little toasty. I know it's cold in some parts
(00:42):
of the country. I've been traveling. I went to London, I went
to la and it was cold outthere. It was hot over there.
Now I'm in the middle, soI'm feeling good. Brother. So you
had a spot of tea? Isthat what you had over there? In
my mouth? I did has somecheery. But before we move on,
(01:07):
it's appropriate to say happy holidays toour listeners and nask A Network Family definitely
wants to extend holiday wishes to youand your families. But today is a
very very exceptional show and it's aboutfamily. But more importantly, it's about
health in the medical care system.I mean, the unfortunate thing today is
is that the medical care system hasgone from the care about care to the
(01:30):
care about money. Well, ifyou don't have money, you can't get
the appropriate care or necessarily the bestcare. You can get some, but
not the best care. Today,we have some siblings on who are personified
examples of family love. So withoutany further ado, we're going to let
them talk to us about what theirexperiences. We're dealing with this fractured in
(01:56):
vacuumsh if you will medical system,so they only do. We're going to
say hello to Vera and Richard Sawyer, good afternoon and good evening to youtubo
from their affiliate. Yes, goodafternoon and good evening. We're good,
We're good, and how are you. We're doing wonderful. We're so glad
you're here. And like I said, thank you. This, oh absolutely,
(02:17):
this thing we want to talk toy'all about is very very emotional on
some level. So I'm going tostep away and let you ver start the
conversation about what it is you didto help your brother and share with our
listeners some of the things you didand what exactly it is that we want
to convey to him. Okay,I was informed by my brother rich that
(02:43):
he needed a immediate open heart surgeryfrom a diagnosis of a thoracic aortic aneurism,
and the aneurysm was so large itwas leaning on his aortic valve,
which also needed to be prepared andin the immediate of course, I guess
she can't imagine. I was devastated, and I didn't handle it well.
(03:04):
Once I got myself together through prayerwith my mom and my sister, who
was also present, because he toldus together, I basically became his advocate.
So what we did initially was Iwent with him to his pre surgery
appointments and then I was basically hiscaregiver throughout his surgery, you know,
(03:29):
well not during his surgery, butafter his surgery, and unfortunately, he
had some unforeseen things happen, andhis situation kind of became a little extreme.
But you know, thank god,he pulled through, and when he
came home, I actually moved itwith him for what about a month or
so. And I have to saythat, you know, at the time,
(03:53):
my brother was forty nine, andyou know, you hear about serious
surgery like that, and my momwas eighty four at the time. This
was in twenty twenty one, andyou know, we were just like,
oh no, he's got to makeit to fifty and beyond, you know.
And it was just definitely a blessingand a beautiful thing that everything went
(04:15):
so well. And his surgery wasdone at Jefferson University Hospital here in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and I'd have to saythat his experience was excellent. My
brother has excellent benefits and he hassome of the top docs you know in
the cardiac field, specifically for thatparticular surgery, and we have a rapport
(04:40):
with them. They were very theyexplained everything, you know. So the
experience wasn't good. What happened wasn'tgood, of course, but the experience,
they made it as comfortable as theycould. Yeah, for the family,
you know, for me, especiallyfor me, right and for him,
(05:00):
which he'll be able to tell youhisself. But I'm very verbal,
and I'm going to ask a lotof questions, you know, and I
would ask tell anyone to ask alot of questions. Ask questions inquired.
If you don't understand something, askand if you still don't understand, ask
more. You know, don't justaccept something because it's coming from the doctor.
(05:23):
If you don't understand some of theterms, some of the big words.
You have to advocate for the personthat cannot advocate for themselves. At
that time, you mentioned advocacy versusbeing a caregiver. Can you kind of
explain to our audience what the differencebetween the two is, because you did
say you did some caregiving as well. They're actually probably married. They're very
(05:46):
similar. Advocacy is more something thatyou do out of love and caring,
where as caregiving. Not to saythat's not out of love and caring.
But I don't want people to getconfused with caregiver as I was hired to
do something. This is my babybrother, so you know, I was
(06:08):
able to advocate for him as anadvocate, which is now I am a
heart health advocate versus and give care. If that makes sense. I'm kind
of explain it, Okay, yes, yes, so yeah, it was.
It's really both. It's really both, but not as a title as
a caregiver. I like to considermyself an advocate and just you know,
(06:33):
just love for my brother. Yeah, you know, just a movie now,
now, would you say that acaregiver is a person who actually participates
in the recovery or in the careof a person, so advocate, you
do things that maybe they can't dofor themselves, or you find different resolutions.
(06:56):
But as a caregiver, you're actuallythere physically but in the healing process.
Would you say that, Oh,yes, absolutely, I think you
explained it better than me. Honestly, that's perfect. That's it right there,
They're moved. You need it,absolutely know. The things that's very
interesting about all of this is afew shows ago ed and I had a
(07:19):
geriatric doctor on and he said thatthe typical family dynamic and most of the
people who are later of people whokind of stand out and do the kind
of things that you're doing, arethe oldest sister of the family. So
you're kind of, you know,playing right into that role if you will.
It's amazing how statistically that tends tobe the case. But where we
(07:39):
can take a quick break and whenwe get back, we want to talk
a little bit more about not justthe advocacy, but the inherent care and
love that goes with the things thatyou did, and how it's spinned off
into an organization that you all haveset up. Let this book. At
that radio show, I'm doctor RobertBenson with my main man at the ice
g and we're talking to Richard andVera Sawyer about a very very sensitive topic
(08:00):
and we'll be right back see why. Listeners from over one hundred and fifty
countries around the world follow the Bookof Dad Radio Show, joined doctor Robert
Benson and Eddig as the chat withspecial guests who share their stories and information
that will change your life. Watchand listen on Life and Spirit online dot
com, or subscribe to the Bookof Dad Radio Show on Apple, Podcast,
(08:22):
Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever youget your podcast. Brought to you
by the NASCA Network. Hey,welcome back to the Book at Dad Radio
Show with doctor Robert Benson and meEddieg. And we were getting it into
(08:43):
some deep, deep conversation with richand Vera about his situation health wise and
how she was his advocate and caregiver. But something else that took place through
this journey was Vera decided to documentthis journey as well. Right, very
so tell us about that. Iwas able to document Rich's entire journey beginning
(09:11):
on the day before his surgery,right, Rich, So, the day
before his surgery, I actually didhis interview the night before his surgery,
rather and I just felt like havinga real life journey or real life example
(09:33):
to show people about not only whatthe person goes through, but also what
the family goes through. So itwas definitely more from my point of view,
and I just learned a lot goingthrough that journey with him. And
I just keep mentioning advocacy because youknow, I guess if it was such
(09:54):
an if it was an award,an advocacy award, I believe that I
would have got it. The doctorsare just like we've never we've never,
you know, things that we takefor granted from like our mom and just
how we were raised and how weare as people that look, if your
loved one is going through something,you're supposed to be there. You're supposed
(10:15):
to, but they're like, it'speople that don't have anyone that you know,
don't get a visitor. They comingin for a heart surgery, they
don't even get a visitor. Sothis documentary just really shows what that looks
like. And I, you know, yes, me, because I was
there, you know, all thetime. But I also had a chat
(10:37):
going with people, a text thatI would send out to everyone to keep
them abreast of everything going on.And we have a tree of life,
you know, from prayers and justyou know, genuine concern from family and
friends, and you know, thedocumentary just pretty much shows you a little
(11:00):
little bit of everything of what wenton. Rich hasn't watched it yet.
He's not ready to watch it.You know. I definitely was able to
capture some very I want to say, you know, he had tubes and
different things that I don't know ifhe's ready to see himself like that.
(11:24):
And you know, I respect thatI was able to interview his cardiologists.
I was able to interview his surgeon, doctor Plestis, his cardiologists is doctor
Brevetti, and I was able tointerview his cardiac nurse. And it was
what they said was amazing because alot more African American miles younger. You
(11:46):
know, like I said, mybrother was forty nine, but even in
their thirty some earlier are suffering fromthese thoracic aortic aneurysms. And it is
a silent killer. So you know, Richie just lucked out. I mean,
it's called the rich the Rich Sawyerstory, The life COVID nineteen saved
because had my brother and I hadCOVID he would have would not have known
(12:11):
that he had the aneurysm, becausebefore he went back the work, he
decided, let me go get afull exam. You know, I don't
want to go back to work andcome back out and whatever. And that's
they gave him an echo cardiogram andthat's what detected the problem. He had
absolutely no symptoms. I did notknow. I did not know that my
condition was that dire and it wasdouble the size. His aneurysm was double
(12:37):
the size of what your ajoritic,your ajordic AJORDI should be an interesting note
is I would have passed the physicaland a stress tests in that condition.
Wow. You know the thing that'sinteresting about this is that not only did
you do the documentary, you starteda new organization that you're sporting the digs
(12:58):
on. Yeah, your dapper therewith the heart. Talk to us about
that a little bit. If Ican't say one more thing about the documentary,
I we have original music throughout thedocumentary and I made Rich do a
rap was this was this was?This was after the surgery, right,
(13:22):
So I had that's a whole story. That's a story. But I just
wanted to be and I would sendit to y'all. I have to tell
you about this. I have totell you about this. She was telling
me about the story, I meanabout the song up until we went in
the studio. There was no rehearsal, no nothing. She called me.
(13:46):
It was like rich meet me downat the studio, like, okay,
I get to the studio. Shehad me a piece of paper and was
like okay, no wrap, putme in the boot engineer and everything.
Yeah, I'm telling you that thecreator was with me because I was able
(14:09):
to do it, and because Ireally didn't want to do it. He
didn't I really didn't want to doit. He loved me. It just
worked out. If you was toask me to duplicate that right now,
to save my life, I wouldbe up in heaven. Well, let
me say this. He did anamazing job. I really am going to
(14:31):
make sure that I send that overto you. We did a video and
everything any want to do the videoeither. I made him not only do
the song, but we did avideo. So the video exactly like the
background was like cloudy and stuff likeI was, you know, on a
cloud, and yeah, that's true. True. You know, she did
(14:52):
everything, and you know it wasa fun experience and just it was just
a lot for me at that time. This is well, I'm sure you
guys are going to get it tous, but this is this is great
stuff because sibling love is amazing.I mean the family. I mean,
the closest people I have been toin my life was my sister. And
(15:16):
you know that your sister and yourbrother. I mean, it's like that
sibling love is something that just can'tbe substituted for you know, and I
think that you all are just anexample is personified, if you will.
But thank you now, you're welcome, and thank you for sharing this with
us. And we'll make sure ourlisteners get to hear the rest of it
and you and see the document anda those kinds of documentary and all those
(15:37):
types of things too. But thisbook at that radio show, let's take
a quick break and when we comeback, we'll touch on the sibling family
thing in the fact that not everybodyhas the benefits that that can can that
can have this kind of procedure done, because the medical system has got to
the point where it really isn't aboutensuring safety and health, it's about money,
(15:58):
and that that's the real problem.That we're dealing with these days.
As a matter of fact, it'sthe platform of which a lot of these
politicians are running. But this bookat that radio show of doctor Rebert Benson,
aig Vera and Richard. Thank y'all, we'll be right back. You
have something special, You have greatnessin you. Hello, I'm Less Brown,
missus, Mamie Brown's baby boy.I want you to spread the word
(16:18):
to your family members and friends tolisten to Less Brown Greatness Radio dot com.
Absolutely, and let me share withyou why we're going to be focusing
on positive things. Because whatever youfocus on the longest becomes the strongest.
And now more than ever, whenthe suicide rate has increased over thirty three
(16:38):
percent, when the suicide rate ofyoung children between five and eleven has doubled,
people feeling hopeless and stressed out andpowerless. We need programming that can
bring out the greatness in them,and that's what we will be focused on.
When you listen, it will bean experience, will transform your life.
(17:00):
Let's Brown Greatness Radio dot com.That's my story and I'm sticking to
it. Hey, and we're rightback to doctor Robert Benson with the book
that radio show with a main man, idiis g and we're talking to Richard
and Vera Sawyer and guys, thisstory really resignates with me and it strikes
(17:21):
an emotional cord, which I'll touchon later. But when we left off,
we were talking about the fact thatnot everyone has healthcare or appropriate healthcare,
and Richard and Vera are going toexplain even more about how this situation
was almost isolated you, if Ican use that word, it makes it
(17:41):
God sent, if you will,so Vera talk to us a little bit
about that your organization and the factthat not everybody has a healthcare and how
that issue, if you will,rolled into everything that's happened with you too.
Rich and I decided to become hearthealth advocates, and we just took
(18:03):
it a step further by. Ifound it every heart becounts. And my
main reason was because when when mybrother, the test that my brother was
given was an echo cardiogram, Ialso sound of the heart, and had
he not had the benefit that hehad, he would not have been able
to get that particular test, whichwould have meant they would not have found
(18:29):
it. And I guarantee you hewould not be saying here today, Hey,
you and I had that test,and you know that that was devastating
for me to know that that testis that important and that is not something
that's given annually. It's also notsomething that's given to younger people and is
oftentime not covered. So for theuninsured and underinsured, we are in the
(18:55):
process of raising funds as one ofour initiatives to help those underinsured and uninsured
people receive an echo cardiogram. Andthe second thing that we found out or
that I know, is that seventyseven percent of the population does not have
dental coverage and you need, wehave to be clear by dentists to receive
(19:18):
heart surgery. And so we also, yes, you have to have a
dental exam, you have to becleared by a dentist to make sure you
don't have any type gum disease,any type period donal disease in order to
get a surgery for more than justheart but definitely hard because that's your blood,
you know, the bloodstream, andbecause so many people don't have that,
(19:40):
the uninsured again and the underinsured,we're also in the process of raising
funds for those people. And that'swhat every heart beat counts is all about
like im you know, I know, doctor Benson, you know you went
through a tough time, and Ijust really just want to say, like
I can imagine, like I can'timagine I am my brother. I can't
(20:06):
imagine it. Yeah, I appreciatethat. You know. The thing that's
amazing about this is that why Iam so happy for you. I'm a
little envious because, as you justmentioned, I wasn't able to do what
you were able to do for yourbrother for my sister. So we can
talk a little more about that lateron. But the thing that I really
(20:26):
find interesting is is that you know, it's kind of pick it up a
little bit, that you know,everything that you do, your sister or
your brother has to approve it,right, so and then you you took
that to the next level. Imean, it's it's totally amazing. I
know Ed's sister, Sheelle, Sheand I, I mean we're family,
but Shelle and I graduated from highschool together, so I knew that she
(20:48):
kept him in line. Am Iright ed? But anyway, talk to
us about what we can expect tosee from healthy heart or if I if
I pronounce it correctly in the future, please, okay. So another initiative
that we have for every rd becountsis we give this gift, so it
(21:15):
comes with a button, it's abeer comes in. This is how it's
presented, and this is for people. I'm I'm I've partnered with I'm a
veteran, So I partner with theVA Hospital here in Philadelphia, and there
are a lot of cardio people whoare suffering from cardiac ellmans who have no
(21:37):
family or friends. So what wedo. They allow me to go in
and give them a gift just tokind of uplift their spirits and you know,
brighten their day. So that's anotherone of our initiatives. Again.
We we definitely want to help theuninsured and under insured with echo cardiograms and
UH dental exams and dental clearances.We we also raise awareness about heart disease
(22:03):
and we promote our healthy lifestyle foranyone. So we partner also with one
hundred black men. They have aparent Academy and they they allow me to
have consultants come in whether it's fornutrition, movement, so we'll have a
zoomba. We just did yoga,so we also do that. Next year
(22:26):
We're going to have we're going tooffer a CPR and AED course. My
secondary target. So our first targetis twenty five to fifty five men and
women. Our secondary target is youthin sports. We want to make sure
that those coaches are CPR certified,especially in urban and underserved communities, because
(22:48):
they need to know how to doCPR and they need to know how to
operate in an AED machine and havean AED machine on hand at all times.
And yeah, we're going to havewe want to have line dance parties
as well as something else for ourmovement classes. We have a Million's Monday
Meals on Instagram. Every Monday.We offer a heart healthy recipe and we
(23:15):
are oh and I am I'm notreally supposed to announce it, but I
hopefully will be a woman of Impactfor the go Red for Women American Heart
Association, so for next year.So we definitely have a lot going on.
What do you do anything? Soyeah, we are I'm just I'm
(23:41):
just, you know, proud tobe the vehicle through which all this is
happening. Wow. Yeah, youknow, I mean, it was an
unfortunate situation for me, but youknow, we try to take a positive
out of a negative and it's definitelya post. Yes, and his temperament
is amazing. He held us togetherin all he was going through. He
(24:06):
held us together because he was soit's you know, just like so positive.
Look, this happened, let's getit done. So on and so
forth. We can only be butso upset and said, if the person
is going through it, it's like, look, it's going to be alright,
it's whatever itself to know me,yeah, to really understand. But
you know, yeah, it wasa bad situation. But you know,
(24:29):
I just take it like anything else, you know, let's get through it.
Yes, that's favor. Amen.Hey, well let me say this
real quick, vera thank you foryour service. I'm a veteran as well.
For your service, you know,no doubt, no doubt me too.
But here's the thing, and that'sthe one thing we learned in the
(24:51):
military is to take care of eachother because we often, I mean we
often find ourselves in situations where ifwe don't, somebody's gonna die. I
hate to say it like that,but family, the family, listen here.
We could talk about this forever,okay, I mean this is a
touching subject. I mean, well, but we really are happy that you
(25:12):
came to get up with us here. We know we want to make sure
that people know how to reach outand find you, guys, but it's
just another great show for an audience. How about that edit you they?
I agree, And I just wantto say to our viewers and listeners to
really take a moment to appreciate yourfamily members. Appreciate you know, the
(25:38):
ones that are here, and pickup the phone and call your brother or
your sister. Sell them I lovethem, because you know, we take
people for granted, not in anegative way, but you just think that
they'll always be there and you justdon't want to lose somebody and say I
never told them why they were here. How I felt. You know,
(26:02):
you know, brother and sister,we get along, we fight, we
laugh sometimes, just say it.Just tell them, just say you love
them and you appreciate them, especiallynow during the season. Absolutely. Yes,
yes, Well, guys, LikeI said before, this is a
really really sensitive topic for me,and it's difficult to articulate because I just
(26:26):
recently lost my sister Karen Benson andwent through similar I appreciate that I went
through a similar scenario with her thatwe were trying to do exactly what you
were doing. You were advocating,you were trying to make sure that the
appropriate testing and such was done,but unfortunately it didn't. I wasn't successful
(26:49):
in doing that for her. Sobut all I can do right now is
say, you know, I enjoyedher when she was here, but to
go back, I said, Iappreciate every conversation we've had, you know,
I just want to tell her,Karen, I love you and the
next time. But this has beenthe book of that radio show doctor Robert
Benson, Eddie, ih G.Thank you so much for me, Amen
(27:11):
and Vera and Rich will be intouch with you guys real soon, I'm
sure. But okay, thank youso much, God blessed, Thank you
God you too. And like itsaid, tell your family you love them
and happy holidays. Some book ofthat d
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