I'm the guy that asked the original Q. I'm trying all the stuff recommended above (many thanks for that), but I keep running into recommend options that are not available, to me. Such as, when I connect my phone to my MiniMac and find it in iTunes, there is no "Voice memo" option, in the list it offers me.
A possible problem I should have mentioned earlier -- I still use an iPhone 6 (with iOS 12.3.1). Ever since hearing about the Apple/Qualcomm patent battles, and while waiting for 5G, I've been holding off getting an update. Are there any alternate options I should try, when using an iPhone 6?
Second note - now that I've started paying for a 50 Gb iCloud account, I'm backing up and syncing everything I can, from my phone. Got 4 minutes left (or so it says, but it's been saying that for at least 5-8 minutes now) , on the latest "back up everything" attempt, to find out whether that will work . . .
Barring that, I I've only about a mile from an Apple Store. I'll try there, if the above doesn't work.
But, hey, many thanks for the suggestions. They've gotten me started . . .