Steve Jobs Takes Second Medical Leave

[Paul Daniel Ash]

In a somewhat disturbing press release from Apple, Steve Jobs has announced that the company's Board of Directors approved his request for a medical leave of absence. He will keep his title of Chief Executive Officer, though Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook - who ran Apple during Jobs's last medical leave in 2009 - will again take the reins of the company.

Jobs was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2004. This form of cancer is extremely deadly, and 95% of those diagnosed with this disease die within five years. Jobs initially refused normal medical treatment, instead relying on a special diet to cure him of the disease. Eventually, Jobs underwent a surgical procedure to remove the head of his pancreas, his duodenum, part of his stomach, the gall bladder and other organs. Though Jobs has generally refused to discuss his health issues publicly, the tumor was believed to have been removed through this procedure. However, his thin, gaunt appearance in subsequent years, as well as a six month leave of absence in 2009 during which he had a liver transplant, has led to persistent concerns about his health. Bloomberg inadvertently published a draft of a Steve Jobs obituary in 2008; Jobs later joked about the worries during an iPod event, quoting Mark Twain that "the reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."

During an address to the graduating class of Stanford in 2005, Steve ruminated on the lessons he had learned from his illness. He told the graduates that "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma... which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

The Apple press release consisted only of Jobs's email to all Apple employees, which reads:

Team,

At my request, the board of directors has granted me a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health. I will continue as CEO and be involved in major strategic decisions for the company.

I have asked Tim Cook to be responsible for all of Apple's day to day operations. I have great confidence that Tim and the rest of the executive management team will do a terrific job executing the exciting plans we have in place for 2011.

I love Apple so much and hope to be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, my family and I would deeply appreciate respect for our privacy.

Steve

Steve Jobs has had a unique impact on the world of technology: brilliant and visionary, though often dictatorial and arbitrary. It's probably safe to say that the iOS ecosystem - and thus this site - would not exist without his contributions. We send our best to Steve and his family, and our wishes for his speedy recovery.

Source: AppleInsider, image via Bolaji O

[thetoothfairy]

Cancer is a ugly thing... poor guy I feel for him. I hope his health improves so that he can return to work! God bless this man!

[360psp]

Oh man, well its good to get your rest

[Mrteacup]

He should donate his money for a cure

[McMichael96]

Cancer is a ugly thing... poor guy I feel for him. I hope his health improves so that he can return to work! God bless this man!

He is bootest, he don't beleave in God... Which he should though... Cause bodes is nothing more then a man who died. A false god.

Yes it is a ugly thing though.

[Dr Arthur]

I'll be sad when Steve Jobs is gone. He's a unique, selfless leader who turned Apple into a giant innovator. I suspect this may be it for him, if the whole story is true. I hope when he's gone it won't be management by gutless committees and self-serving yes men.

[mustard05]

I wish him and his family the best, no matter what his situation may be, or who/what he believes in.

[Tech guy]

He's coming back right. and This is very sad I almost cried

[feidhlim1986]

He is bootest, he don't beleave in God... Which he should though... Cause bodes is nothing more then a man who died. A false god.

Yes it is a ugly thing though.

Its spelt Buddhist and Buddha.
He can believe what he wants. Just like many believe Jesus was nothing more than a man who died.

Anywho, Get Well Steve. The many deserves to take as many breaks as he wants, he strikes me as a workaholic. Take it slow.

[Tech guy]

Steve jobs Is great man and I hope he comes back soon I will miss him so bad the next keynote

[manickbarry]

God help us all when steve is gone will the apple we have grown to love go with him

[feidhlim1986]

God help us all when steve is gone will the apple we have grown to love go with him

I'd say not. For the sake of his health though, I would like Steve Jobs to step down as CEO permanently and take more of a consulting role. The company will still have Tim Cook, Phil Shiller, Johnny Ive and many more geniuses who don't often get the credit they deserve.

[playboii]

get will steve! you have the mind of the future!

[steve-z17]

Hope he gets better soon. Nice that he'll still play a role in key decisions and announcements. Tim Cook is a great guy to leave the day to day operations to, very smart and trustworthy!

[Xcellerator]

Good guy. Hope all the best for him.

[thetoothfairy]

Steve made Apple... what I love about Steve is his casual look and appears to be a real sweet man. As I stated I feel sorry for him. Cancer is nothing but a real struggle in life and in the long run many loose the battle to it.

[The Amazing Atheist]

He is bootest, he don't beleave in God... Which he should though... Cause bodes is nothing more then a man who died. A false god.

Yes it is a ugly thing though.

Even on iRelated boards is religion constantly shoved down our throats. Spew your crap on another site.

Steve will be ok, when it comes to worst I think he will push money into it.

Without Stevie who will we go against? D:

[one1]

Steve is too skinny from his 08 transplant to make it through any more issues. He won't be back.

Ever since he went through rehabilitation and came back he has been bone thin. We likely won't see Jobs again.

Apple's Steve Jobs to take medical leave [Updated] | Technology | Los Angeles Times

[Xcellerator]

Steve is too skinny from his 08 transplant to make it through any more issues. He won't be back.

Ever since he went through rehabilitation and came back he has been bone thin. We likely won't see Jobs again.

Apple's Steve Jobs to take medical leave [Updated] | Technology | Los Angeles Times

Dang, never really noticed, but wow he is sure THIN! Needs to eat a big more lol.

[one1]

Even on iRelated boards is religion constantly shoved down our throats. Spew your crap on another site

You can take your **** elsewhere too homeboy.

Dang, never really noticed, but wow he is sure THIN! Needs to eat a big more lol.

HE has the best nutritionist and doctors money can buy and he has not ben able to put a pound back o since the transplant. He had weight on him last time to keep him alive. This time he does not. You can see from his legs they are paper thin. Steve simply doesn't have a strong enough system to pull through this time.


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