President Jimmy Carter for Cancer Survivor

Before a “Conversation With The Carter’s” event, at The Carter Center in 2013, I was able to take this photo with President Jimmy Carter.

With a cool, calm and humble spirit, President Jimmy Carter told details of his cancer diagnosis and treatment. His unforgettable words were soothing for all who listened: ‘I am 90 years old and have lived a good life.’ Then he went on to say:

“I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said. “I have a deep religious faith which I’m very grateful for. And, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t go into an attitude of despair or anger or anything like that. I was completely at ease. I’m looking forward to a new adventure.” (1)

President Jimmy Carter continued to say he has friends all over the world and he will teach Sunday School on Sunday and as long as he is able.

Shortly thereafter, the former president had his first radiation treatment for
the four spots found on his brain. Even with a deep family history of pancreatic cancer and his mother’s breast cancer, he had far outlived them all.

As a cancer survivor, I can tell you from experience that radiation weakens the body and zaps your energy. Our 39th president has already yielded to change his schedule for his treatments and to follow the advice of his doctors. However, President Jimmy Carter will continue to amaze us as a cancer survivor whether he lives two more weeks, months or several years, he has indeed lived an extraordinary life while making a difference in the lives of people all over the world.  What a life!  What a man!  What a humble servant of The Lord Jesus Christ!

I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to take a picture with President Carter before one of his talks at the Carter Center in 2013.

(Note: (1) Quote above from CNN’s Aug. 20, 2015 online article.)