ATLANTA — President Jimmy Carter announced he's taking a step back from his duties at the Carter Center while he battles cancer.
During a news conference Thursday, former President Jimmy Carter not only talked about his cancer diagnosis, but also about what it will mean for the Carter Center.
While he and wife, Rosalyn, plan to lessen their involvement with the nonprofit they formed in 1982, the former president says the center's work will go on.
Channel 2's Tom Jones talked with a doctor from Nigeria who was visiting the Carter Center Thursday. He told Jones he had not heard about the president's diagnosis, but said Carter has done so much for Nigeria and his heart goes out to him.
"I feel duty bound when I'm in Atlanta to visit his center," said Dr. Adam Dangwani
Jones talked with Dangwani as he visited the Carter Center Museum.
Dangwani said his heart goes out to the soon to be 91-year-old former president.
"We can only pray for him. And we hope he will get over it," Dangwani said.
Carter Center CEO Mary Ann Peters said the news of Carter's cancer hit her like a ton of bricks.
She told Jones that the Carter Center is well prepared to continue the former president's mission as he pulls back and deals with his illness.
She said brain cancer is serious, but it's not the end.
"We do not consider this as being over. He is a fighter," Peters said.
Channel 2's Lori Geary was at Carter's news conference Thursday where he discussed his diagnosis.
Geary said Carter was clearly not at ease having to cut back on his work at the Carter Center, where for decades he has helped to eradicate disease while also creating peace and democracy throughout the world.
The former president also announced his grandson, former state senator and gubernatorial candidate, Jason Carter, will soon take the helm.
"I really think one of the most difficult things for him is the treatment is going to require him to slow down," Jason Carter told Geary.
The younger Carter said his grandfather and grandmother called the family together to tell them the news.
"It was interesting to me how important it was to let the public know he feels like he has spent his life being honest and open with that community and so many well wishes, he wanted to let people know," Jason Carter said.
WSBTV
