Aaron revisits a powerful story of resilience as Juan Caminero shares his journey from an initial misdiagnosis to facing a life-altering diagnosis. Juan’s story takes us through the pain, uncertainty, and courage it took to confront his greatest fears. Join us for this compelling episode about strength and the quiet grace that emerges when life takes unexpected turns.
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Story created & performed by: Aaron Calafato
Senior Audio Engineer: Ken Wendt
Additional vocals: Cori Birce
Art: Pete Whitehead
Original Music: thomas j. duke
Transcript
Aaron Calafato:
I don't know why, but more and more of you keep showing up on Thursdays to hear these short stories about my life. And while I still can’t believe it’s not just five people—half of whom are family members—I’m grateful to each of you, and I say let’s keep going. This is happening because you're telling people about it.
So, if you’re listening to my voice right now, think of someone you like, care about, or maybe even love. Send them a quick text—no need to spam them with an email—and tell them, “Hey, there’s this weird podcast. It’s about seven minutes. This guy tells stories. I think you might like it.” Most people who listen stick around, just like you did.
Today, I’m bringing back a story that means a lot to me. It’s an inspirational story I helped tell about a colleague. As I mentioned to new listeners and long-time listeners alike, Thursdays are usually just for you and me, but every once in a while, I come across a story that I want to help tell or curate. This is one of those. I narrate it, but you’ll hear directly from Juan, who went through some incredible challenges. His story has stayed with me, and for some reason, it came to mind again this week, so I felt it was time to share it again for those who missed it or want to revisit it.
The story is called The Diagnosis.
It’s December of 2021, and Juan Caminero, in his 20s, is recovering from COVID in the hospital. As he recovers, he starts to feel a pain in his back. Days later, he’s released, COVID-free, but the pain is getting worse. It reaches the point where he can barely walk, so he returns to the ER. The place is packed, and after a long wait, he’s seen. They diagnose him with kidney stones, prescribe pain medication, and schedule a urologist appointment for a later date.
The pain persists as Juan waits to see the urologist, but then things take a turn. The urologist says it’s not kidney stones—it’s just back pain, with no clear explanation. Desperate for answers, Juan finally meets a specialist for his back, and he starts physical therapy. It helps a little, but the pain remains severe. Eventually, they recommend an MRI.
Juan agrees to the MRI and, after a couple of days, receives a phone call that will change his life. The doctor, a spine specialist, tells him that the MRI revealed a mass inside his spine. She says it might be benign, but they’ll need to operate and consult with a neurosurgeon about the next steps.
Imagine that—you go from possibly having kidney stones to back pain to learning you have a tumor in your spine. I asked Juan what he felt in that moment.
Juan recalls leaning against his kitchen counter, processing the news in shock but trying to stay calm. Even with the looming uncertainty, he held onto a thread of optimism, though he knew he faced a serious health battle.
The waiting continues. Finally, Juan meets the neurosurgeon for a pre-op appointment, and the news gets even heavier. The surgeon says there’s a strong chance the tumor is cancerous and mentions possible radiation therapy after surgery. It’s a jarring moment, almost like an out-of-body experience for Juan. He leaves the appointment in a daze, sitting in the hospital lobby, trying to process it all.
What can you do in such a situation? You prepare.
Before the surgery, Juan talks with loved ones and gets his affairs in order. He drafts a will, witnessed by his childhood best friend’s parents. He compiles his thoughts, writing messages for his two-year-old daughter and gathering photos of family and friends, trying to capture his life on a flash drive. But in the end, he realizes that no amount of preparation can capture everything he wants to say.
The day of the surgery arrives, and Juan’s family is there for support. He asks the neurosurgeon one last time about the seriousness of the tumor, and the doctor confirms the diagnosis. Juan drifts into sleep, and when he wakes up, he finds his family smiling.
The tumors, as it turns out, are benign. Despite being warned twice about the likelihood of cancer, the doctor sees that the tumors are harmless during the surgery. Juan struggles to fully accept the news after everything he’s been through, but later, when he finally leaves the hospital, he feels a tear slide down his face. He’s at peace, at least for that moment, having faced one of the hardest challenges of his life.
Recorded in November 2022, just about a year after his journey began, Juan now spends time with family, especially his daughter. He even recently competed in a jiu-jitsu tournament—a true badass. When I think of Juan’s story, one word comes to mind: grace.
