Episode 10 Description

In this deeply personal season finale of I Have A What?! Surviving a Brain Tumor, Johnathan “TeflonJohn” Smith opens up about the appointment he never expected to change his journey. What began as a routine MRI and follow up visit slowly turned into a moment that shifted everything.

For over a year, Johnathan had settled into a rhythm of appointments, scans, and quiet monitoring. The symptoms that once felt frightening had become familiar. Fatigue, nausea, pressure, and mental fog were no longer alarming, they were part of daily life. He convinced himself this was simply the new normal. But during this visit, the routine finally broke.

This episode walks listeners through the subtle emotional and physical shifts that led up to that appointment, the calm conversations on the drive there, the sense of comfort in repetition, and the unexpected moment when the doctor’s tone changed. Suddenly, watch and wait was no longer the plan. Surgery entered the conversation. And Johnathan found himself sitting in a room where the future felt heavier than it had just moments before.

Johnathan shares what it felt like to absorb that news in real time, how he tried to remain steady for his wife, and how the ride home became a quiet space of processing, reflection, and faith. He also opens up about calling his mother, hearing the pause in her voice, and watching both his wife and his mom step into powerful roles of emotional and spiritual support.

This episode is not just about medical news. It is about what happens internally when life shifts without warning. It explores the emotional weight of uncertainty, the tension between staying strong and being honest, and the importance of allowing yourself to be supported when you are used to carrying everything alone.

Johnathan also reflects on a lesson from his grandfather, a reminder that strength is not just about enduring hardship. It is about knowing when to stop, listen, and trust God in moments when you cannot control the outcome.

If you have ever walked into a situation thinking everything was fine only to discover that something had changed, if you are supporting someone through illness, or if you are navigating your own diagnosis, this episode will resonate deeply. It is honest, reflective, and rooted in the shared human experience of facing the unknown with faith and community.

💭 In this episode, Johnathan shares:• What it felt like when a routine brain tumor MRI became something more• The emotional shift when the doctor’s tone changed• How he processed the news with his wife and family• The quiet ride home and the internal weight of uncertainty• The role of faith during moments of loss of control• A powerful lesson from his grandfather about real strength• How this moment leads into Season 2 and the road to surgery

☕ Support the podcast:Follow the show for more real stories of faith, resilience, and survival. If you want to support this mission of encouragement, storytelling, and awareness, you can visit BuyMeACoffee.com/TeflonJohn. Your support helps spread hope to others walking through hard seasons.

#IHaveAWhatPodcast #SurvivingABrainTumor #BrainTumorJourney #TeflonJohn #FaithAndHealing #FamilySupport #HealingJourney #BrainTumorSurvivor #ResilienceAndRecovery #PodcastStorytelling

If this episode connects with you, leave a comment on Spotify or share it with someone who might need to hear it. Every message helps build a community of support and understanding.

🧠 Episode Description

In this deeply personal episode of I Have A What?! Surviving a Brain Tumor, Johnathan “TeflonJohn” Smith opens up about the moment his brain tumor symptoms began returning in ways he could no longer push through. After weeks of quiet warnings, subtle pains, pressure, fatigue, and moments where the world seemed to shift around him, something changed. The symptoms did not stay quiet anymore, and his body started telling the truth he had been trying not to face.

Up until now, Johnathan had been operating in two realities. There was the version he showed the world, the strong one who kept working, creating, motivating, and pushing forward no matter how he felt. Then there was the private version, the man wrestling with returning brain tumor symptoms and convincing himself it was just part of his new normal. Episode 9 steps into the tension between those two identities and the moment he could no longer hide what was happening inside.

This episode explores the emotional weight of recognizing the signs before any doctor confirms them. The frustration of trying to explain away pain. The fear of what returning symptoms might mean. The exhaustion that settles in when your body forces you to slow down. And the spiritual tug of war that happens when faith is strong but your physical strength is fading.

For the first time, Johnathan speaks openly about how these worsening brain tumor symptoms affected his work, his routine, his relationships, and his confidence. He shares the interruptions, the sharp pains, the pressure behind his eye, the late nights of discomfort, and the moments when he could not pretend anymore. His honesty pulls listeners into the internal battle between fear and faith, courage and concern, hope and reality.

Johnathan also returns to a powerful lesson from his grandfather. Growing up, he watched his grandfather push through challenges with quiet strength, but he also witnessed the wisdom of knowing when something needed real attention. That lesson resurfaced during this chapter of his journey, reminding him that strength is not just about enduring pain. It is about knowing when to stop, listen, and take action before the situation grows worse.

If you have ever ignored the signs because you hoped they would fade, if you have ever pushed yourself past your limits while hiding your struggle, or if you understand the fear that rises when symptoms return after a diagnosis, this episode will resonate deeply. It is honest, vulnerable, and a part of the brain tumor journey many survivors rarely talk about.

💭 In this episode, Johnathan shares:

• ​ What it felt like when his brain tumor symptoms began returning• The physical signs that grew harder to ignore• Why he tried to push through the pain and pretend everything was normal• How worsening symptoms affected his work and daily life• The emotional toll of balancing fear, faith, and frustration• The moment his body stopped negotiating• A powerful lesson from his grandfather about real strength• How this chapter leads directly to the shocking news in Episode 10

☕ Support the podcast:📱 Follow the show for more real stories of faith, resilience, and survival. If you want to support this mission of encouragement, storytelling, and awareness, you can visit BuyMeACoffee.com/TeflonJohn. Your support helps spread hope to others walking through hard seasons.

#IHaveAWhatPodcast #SurvivingABrainTumor #BrainTumorJourney #TeflonJohn #InvisibleSymptoms #EmotionalHealth #FaithOverFear #HealingJourney #BrainTumorSurvivor #ResilienceAndRecovery #PodcastStorytelling

If this episode connects with you, leave a comment on Spotify or share it with someone who may be carrying more than they show. Every message helps build a community of support and understanding.

🧠 Episode Description
In this deeply personal episode of I Have A What?! Surviving a Brain Tumor, Johnathan “TeflonJohn” Smith shares the moment when the mask he had been wearing finally slipped, not at home and not with family, but at work. After weeks of pushing through dizziness, pressure, fatigue, and moments of zoning out, someone finally noticed. A trusted coworker saw what others missed, the truth that his symptoms were breaking through the image of strength he tried so hard to maintain.

Up until this moment, Johnathan had been living two versions of himself. There was the version everyone saw at work, the leader, the motivator, the dependable presence. Then there was the version he carried in private, the man silently fighting a brain tumor diagnosis while trying to convince himself that he could handle it alone. Episode 8 steps into the tension between those two identities and the moment they collided.

This episode explores the emotional shock of being seen when you are trying your hardest not to be. The fear of exposure. The vulnerability of having someone notice the pain you worked so hard to hide. And the strange mix of relief and discomfort that happens when someone caring steps in and says, “Are you sure you are okay?”

For the first time, Johnathan talks openly about how a coworker’s concern became the turning point that forced him to face reality. Her questions, her observations, and her genuine worry helped him accept that the situation was more serious than he was allowing himself to believe.

Johnathan also reflects on a powerful lesson from his grandfather. Growing up, his grandfather took him to youth sports practices and taught him the meaning of never quitting, even when things felt tough or uncomfortable. That lesson resurfaced in this chapter of his journey, reminding him that perseverance does not always mean hiding the pain. Sometimes it means knowing when to trust someone enough to let them in.

If you have ever tried to hide your struggle, if you have ever kept going until someone else noticed the weight you were carrying, or if you understand the fear of letting someone see the real you in a vulnerable moment, this episode will resonate deeply. It is honest, it is human, and it is part of the story many survivors never talk about.

💭 In this episode, Johnathan shares:• What it felt like when his symptoms began showing at work• The moment a coworker noticed something was wrong• Why he tried to hide the truth for so long• The inner battle between strength and vulnerability• How being seen unexpectedly forced him to face reality• The emotional shift that came from trusting someone with the truth• A powerful childhood lesson from his grandfather about perseverance• How this moment sets the stage for the worsening symptoms

💬 If this episode connects with you, leave a comment on Spotify or share it with someone who may be carrying more than they show. Every message helps build a community of support and understanding.

☕ Support the podcast:If you want to support this mission of encouragement, storytelling, and awareness, you can visit BuyMeACoffee.com/TeflonJohn. Every contribution helps spread hope to others walking through hard seasons.

📱 Follow the show for more real stories of faith, resilience, and survival.
#IHaveAWhatPodcast #SurvivingABrainTumor #BrainTumorJourney #TeflonJohn #InvisibleSymptoms #EmotionalHealth #FaithOverFear #HealingJourney #BrainTumorSurvivor #ResilienceAndRecovery #PodcastStorytelling