Steve Jobs quells deathbed rumors

On the heels of yet another round of deathbed rumors, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has apparently decided that enough is enough. In an open letter letter, Jobs revealed the state of his health to the Apple community at large. In the letter, he explained that his radical weight loss was the result of hormone imbalance that was only recently diagnosed. Most importantly, Jobs gave a public assurance that that he will remain CEO of Apple even as he has begins treatment for the condition.

On the flip side, I think Wall Street's fascination with the health of Steve Jobs reveals just how much Apple relies on his personality cult. Certainly, the news that Jobs will not be giving his regular keynote speech at the Macworld conference was poorly received. People are mortal though, and Apple has to think hard about how it intends to eventually survive Jobs. Having opened Pandora's box, Apple might be forced to repeatedly use the same strategy in future.

You can read the full letter below:

Dear Apple Community,

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.

For more on this story:
- check out this article from ZDNet
- check out this article from ITBusinessEdge

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