This past week, my brother John was diagnosed with stage 3 stomach cancer.

If you don’t know John, he is a son, a brother, and a dad with a warm demeanor who loves animals, golf, and riding motorcycles with his friends. He is a hard-working individual who, until recently, ran a successful powder coating shop in Augusta, Georgia.

A few months back, he started feeling ill. Due to a long-standing diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), he thought his lack of energy was due to a flare-up of RA. He tried his best to work through this but ultimately couldn’t keep up with his work demand and had to shutter his business. New symptoms kept cropping up, ones that were not consistent with his past experiences with RA, and he was unable to eat and losing weight rapidly.

About a week and a half ago, he decided to seek help from St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, near my parents, so in case he needed surgery, he would have some place to recover. It was there he received the news he has a large mass in his stomach that appeared malignant and had spread to his esophagus. A biopsy this past Friday confirmed a diagnosis of stage 3 stomach cancer.

As everyone is surely aware, medical bills can really pile up and contribute to the mountain of worries faced by people fighting complex illnesses. We are seeking support from our community to help him get through this fight while also identifying and working toward his next career as physically his prior occupation will no longer be an option for him.

While donations certainly help, we are also welcoming kind words, encouraging stories, and handwritten cards to help him face this battle while knowing he has the support of loved ones and the community at large.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any support you are willing to provide to my brother during this difficult time.

Handwritten cards can be sent to:

John Teems

135 Walton Creek Rd.

Athens, GA 30607