John Sawyer has many memories from his time serving in the United States Air Force, working his rank up to a Master Sergeant over his 22-year career. While he was serving in Spain, there was a lack of surgery technicians. As a medic he was happy to hop in and help. He scrubbed in for over 1,000 various medical procedures. One of his favorite stories to tell is the day he helped deliver a baby…
John was working in the labor and delivery unit when a woman in the labor room was actively laboring and ready to deliver. The nurse asked him to get the woman on a gurney and take her down to the delivery room while the nurse went to get the doctor. There were two sets of doors to go through to get to the delivery room, and just as they were passing the first set of doors, the woman yelled, “OH! IT’S COMING!”
John lifted the sheet on the gurney to reveal two little eyes looking up at him! The baby slid right into his hands. It was a girl! Moments later, the doctor arrived and finished the delivery. John says it was an exciting day at work and an incredible experience to be able to deliver a baby.
During his time there, John was also honored to have been asked to baptize two stillborn babies by their mothers. He took the babies to the washroom where the technicians and surgeons would scrub in, and he baptized the babies with water from the sink. Both women were put at ease knowing they would see their babies again someday in Heaven. John is proud to have been a part of this comforting gesture for these women.
He was married to the love of his life, Judy, for 47 years before losing her to breast cancer. In that time, they had 4 children and were antique dealers. They loved traveling and even took a two-month RV trip to Alaska! John is a huge fan of the Detroit Lions and Tigers, and he developed a hobby in woodworking. He later remarried to an amazing woman, Margaret, and they were married for 12 years before losing her.
For years, he would play poker once a week with a group of his buddies. A resident at The Harbor at Hickory Hill since January 2025, John keeps the staff entertained with his many adventures as a Sergeant. He enjoys his morning coffee and meeting people.