Letter from Steve Jobs

 

For the first time in a decade, I'm getting to spend the holiday season

with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set

off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing

stories of me on my deathbed.

I've decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so

that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason

has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that

getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1

priority.

Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the

cause -- a hormone imbalance that has been "robbing" me of the proteins my

body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this

diagnosis.

The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and

straightforward, and I've already begun treatment. But, just like I didn't

lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it

will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple's

CEO during my recovery.

I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will

be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer

continue to fulfill my duties as Apple's CEO. I hope the Apple community will

support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for

Apple first.

So now I've said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to

say, about this.

 

Steve