A COLUMN by JOHN ANDERSON
“Sawyer.”
Just the last name, and you know Pat Sawyer is walking up behind you or entering your establishment. You smile because you know he has a smile on his face.
He’s not there to talk politics or sell you real estate, he’s there to spend his money and promote your business. He’s there to see old friends and make news ones.
Eventually, you are following him on Facebook and following Sawyer Realty. Patrick probably doesn’t realize it, but more people admire the countless posts he has eating incredible meals all over the area with his mother, Sandy, than anything else. Of course, he also has some poignant posts about his late father, James.
Jimmy passed away in 2005 and I remember those tributes. He was an ICS and Wellsville grad like so many, coached Harris Supply in Little League, and of course, took over Sawyer Realty from his father and later made sure Patrick ran it starting in 2004 as third generation. He’s been at it 30 years. Sandy today is still the backbone though!
But Pat makes sure to remember his father, he looked like he could’ve played for the Boston Celtics, and Pat is a member of the Wellsville Area Chamber of Commerce Board, just like his dad.
So it came to a big surprise when I heard Pat needed help.
Why?
Like his father, he’s literally a giant of a man.
Then came that damn word … cancer.
Pat kept it quiet from most people for almost two years. In the fall of 2022, doctors discovered melanoma and a mass was removed from his back. He started immunotherapy and treatments continued through all of 2023.
Pat kept his spirit, kept plugging away at work and then the news came.
“Unfortunately, in May of 2024 it spread to my brain,” Pat writes, braver than anyone I know.
I mean, how do you sit down and type up to your friends at the Wellsville Sun you have stage 4 brain cancer? Brings new meaning to “keyboard warrior” doesn’t it?
Pat contiuned.
“Now stage 4, I’m doing radiation and new targeted drugs. The treatments have caused balance issue and neuropathy in my feet,” he said. “The combination makes it necessary to make upgrades to our home to make it safer and easier to navigate. Having to be in Rochester every week for clinical treatments has become a significant expense.”
As a result, funds have been set up. People have donated. But the needs keep out-weighing the donations.
“I’ve never experienced so much generosity and support from friends, acquaintances, local business, churches, veterans clubs, social organizations,” Pat writes. “It’s been life changing. I have no way of knowing watch the future holds, but I’m faithful and ready to fight this ugly disease!”
Because of his grandfather, his father and his mother, he also wants to continue the Sawyer Realty legacy as he fights.
“I continue to run my business, but with fewer clients, so that I can provide the proper service to my clients,” he added.
And unselfish as usual, he wants other to know about melanoma.
“I’d like to add some melanoma awareness … melanoma can travel Internally in as early as 3 weeks. Don’t do what I did during Covid, and think others had priority over heath care. If your doctor retires or moves on to another location, go to urgent care immediately. You will be referred to a dermatologist. Probably Rochester. The point is … If it doesn’t look right, or normal, go get it biopsied! Don’t wait. It’s a lot easier to deal with a band aid than life threatening, metastatic melanoma. Most skin cancers caught early pose little risk. Be well!”
So do what you can for Pat.
Donate, say a prayer … or both.
While Pat can’t mention everyone, those Wellsville friendships run deep. Karena Yager put her life on hold and came up from North Carolina to take Pat to some of his toughest treatments and click about 20 regional bucket list items off his list in a two-week time frame. If anyone has a friend like Karena, consider yourself blessed, because her kind of devotion is rare.
Maybe it’s a Carolina Rebellion thing, cause that’s a music festival that Pat seemed to get everyone from Wellsville together at year after year.
I’m no Karena Yager. So Pat, when I see you, don’t expect anything great or that I will become a cool cat like Karena. However, we can sneak a cigar, listen to some vinyl, tell stories about our past that sounds a hell of a lot better than they did when they happened and smile.
No cancer talk, no work talk, just some smiles as you botch lyrics to songs and try to elf yourself on a shelf that will not fit your oversized frames. Just forgive me in advance for the tears.
(John Anderson is a columnist, content creator and social media, web consultant for the Sun. He can be reached at jandersondigitalmedia@gmail.com)
