Apple CEO Jobs on stage, discusses transplant | ABC30 Fresno

kfsn

By ABC30

Thursday, September 10, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) Jobs, who had a liver transplant this spring, got a standing ovation. Looking thin and speaking quietly and with a scratchy voice, he told the audience he had received the liver of a 20-year-old who died in a car accident, and urged the crowd to become organ donors.

"I wouldn't be here without such generosity," Jobs said.

During the early moments of the event, the CEO outlined an update to Apple's iTunes software. Apple also issued a minor update to the iPhone software.

Jobs had not appeared at such an event since last October. He bowed out of his usual keynote at the year's largest Mac trade show in January and went on leave shortly thereafter.

Jobs disclosed in August 2004 that he had been diagnosed with -- and cured of -- a rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor. Last year, he appeared increasingly thin, sparking speculation that his cancer had returned, though Apple attributed his weight loss then to a common bug.

On Jan. 5, 2009, Jobs said he had a treatable hormone imbalance and that he would continue to run the company. He went on leave the following week, saying his medical problems were "more complex" than he had thought. Apple's chief operating officer, Tim Cook, took over daily duties. Jobs returned to work this summer.