Under cover Mediterranean‘s Captain Sandy Yawn put an emergency room for allegedly not treating the woman Leah Shaferpainful health problems.
“My wife Leah is in visible, debilitating pain (red, swollen eyes, extreme light sensitivity, and sharp pain across her forehead) and the ER sent her home with, ‘We don’t know what’s wrong, here’s some pain meds!’ You’re kidding,” Sandy captioned a Saturday, Jan. 17 Instagram post about the health scare.
Sandy explained Leah’s symptoms along with the photos, adding: “A CT scan confirmed a 3.5cm mucus retention cyst in the sinus cavity. Ophthalmology says her eyes ‘look healthy’. ENT says it may be neurological. Some doctors say post-Covid.
Leah, meanwhile, has been “miserable and suffering” while trying to make a diagnosis.
“The most disturbing part? The way I slept in the ER was despicable. No urgency. No ownership. Just pain meds and uncertainty. When care falls between specialties, patients fall through the cracks, especially women in pain,” Sandy continued. “This isn’t just Leah’s story. It’s a systemic failure!!!!”
Leah Shafer and Captain Sandy Yawn
Courtesy of Leah Shafer and Captain Sandy YawnShe concluded, “Things need to change in the medical system. Meanwhile, she is still miserable. She runs her skin studio at Skin By Leah in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida as a medical esthetician. She is very passionate about her work and clients who have been in the beauty industry for over 30 years! She takes her time and cares about her patients. She deserves what she likes to be able to get answers and relief.”
Sandy and Leah started dating in 2019 after connecting to social networks.
“It’s because of Below Deck that Leah contacted me because she saw the show and wrote, ‘Congratulations on the show. Many blessings.’ And that caught my eye,” Sandy recalled on an episode of the show in September 2024. “So I clicked on a link and she was singing. I was like, ‘OK, I’ve got to meet her.’
After getting engaged on screen, Sandy and Leah tied the knot in May 2024 with several under cover stars of the franchise in attendance. The couple spoke Us Weekly about what would follow shortly after their nuptials.
Below Deck has followed various relationships and adventures throughout the franchise, but some stars found love with each other outside of their seasons. Malia White’s introduction to Below Deck Mediterranean in Season 2 came with a love triangle between Adam Glick and Wesley Walton. Although Malia and Wes tried their romance off-screen, (…)
“At this stage in our lives…every moment we spend together, we become a honeymoon,” Leah shared in May 2024. “Like, there’s no need to set dates. Even yesterday, we’re walking around Tampa and we just saw this little green two-seater boat and we were like, ‘Let’s take it out.'” You know, every second is a honeymoon for us.
She continued: “We are so blessed to find this kind of love at this stage in our lives and to have the acceptance of our family and friends. It really is a beautiful love story and a celebration, and that’s the truth.”
Lia expressed excitement about their plans to change your last name. “For me, (getting married) was so surreal,” she added at the time. “Sandy was telling everyone that she didn’t realize how marriage felt so amazing (and) to know that I’m actually going to take her name, and I’m in the middle of changing my name to Leah Rae Yawn, (and) to not be another girlfriend, it makes me feel like, ‘Wow, I’m his wife.'”