🎧 Episode 2 – The Call That Changed Everything
Subtitle: Hearing the Words “You Have a Brain Tumor”
Published October 13 2025
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The Day Everything Shifted
“They told me it was all in my head, but the truth was, it was a brain tumor.”
Those words that opened Episode 1 take on new meaning in Episode 2.
This is the moment when questions turned into answers and life divided into before and after.
In this episode of I Have a What?! Surviving a Brain Tumor, I share the story of the phone call that stopped time. The doctor’s voice was calm, but the words carried a weight that shook my world. It was the kind of news you never imagine hearing.
The Call
It was an ordinary day. I remember the sunlight in the room, the quiet hum of the house, and then the phone rang. I answered without thinking, expecting another routine update. Instead, I heard the words that changed everything:
“Johnathan, your MRI results came back. We found something.”
Silence filled the space where my heartbeat used to be. The doctor explained that there was a mass in my brain and that it looked like a tumor. The rest of the conversation faded into a blur. My body was still, but my thoughts were spinning.
I thanked the doctor, hung up, and sat there staring at nothing. The world had not stopped, but mine had.
The Moment After
The first emotion was disbelief. I kept replaying the call in my head, hoping I had misunderstood. Then came fear. Not loud or dramatic, but a quiet, deep fear that wrapped around me like a blanket I could not remove.
I thought about my family, my future, and the plans I had made for the year. Every small thing suddenly felt fragile. Yet even in the middle of shock, something inside whispered, You’re still here.
That simple truth became my anchor. I was still breathing. I was still standing. I still had a chance to fight.
Faith in the Middle of the Unknown
Faith became my compass when everything else felt out of control. I remember walking into another room, sitting down, and whispering a prayer. It was not fancy or rehearsed. I just said, “God, I don’t understand this, but please give me strength.”
Faith did not erase the fear, but it gave me focus. It reminded me that pain can have purpose, even when it is hard to see.
Over the next few days, I learned that peace is not the absence of problems. It is the presence of trust.
Telling My Family
Sharing the news with my wife and family was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I saw the same fear in their eyes that I felt in my own heart. But we faced it together.
We talked, cried, prayed, and decided that this diagnosis would not define the end of our story. It would become the beginning of a new chapter.
That night, my wife held my hand and said, “Whatever this is, we’ll face it together.” Those words still echo in my heart.
A Lesson from My Grandfather
Like every episode, this one is dedicated to my grandfather. He always said that true strength is measured in how you respond to what you cannot control. His voice reminded me to stay grounded.
I could hear him saying, “You can’t change what you heard, but you can decide what happens next.”
That mindset carried me through the first few sleepless nights after the call. It became a personal reminder that fear is temporary, but faith can last forever.
Processing the News
In the days after the diagnosis, everything felt sharper. I noticed every sound, every smell, every color. It was as if life had turned the volume up. I began to appreciate small things that I had taken for granted the morning light, the laughter of family, even silence.
The phrase “You have a brain tumor” did not define me. It simply redirected me toward purpose. I realized that I was being given a story that could help others find strength when their own world starts to fall apart.
Why This Episode Matters
Episode 2 is not just about receiving bad news. It is about learning that faith and fear can exist in the same moment and still produce courage. It is about accepting what you cannot change and finding power in how you respond.
If you have ever faced a phone call that turned your life upside down, this episode will remind you that you are not alone. You can find peace in the pause between the problem and the plan.
Key Takeaways
Life can change in a single moment, but purpose survives the shock.
Faith does not remove fear, but it gives fear direction.
You are allowed to feel afraid and hopeful at the same time.
The people who love you are part of your strength.
Every hard moment can lead to growth if you refuse to quit.
Listen to Episode 2
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