Taking a break from the travel news of the day, I found out that Jovita Moore — who had been the primary evening anchorwoman for WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News in Atlanta since 2012 — has died from an aggressive form of brain cancer which is difficult to cure.
Local Atlanta News Anchor Dies From Aggressive Form of Brain Cancer
Moore — who was 53 years old — passed away late last night, Thursday, October 28, 2021. “Jovita had been with Channel 2 Action News since 1998”, according to this article from WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News in Atlanta. “She is survived by her mother, her two wonderful children and stepdaughter, who she called the most important accomplishments of her life.”
Moore had been officially diagnosed with glioblastoma, which “can be very difficult to treat and a cure is often not possible”, according to the official Internet web site of the Mayo Clinic. “Treatments may slow progression of the cancer and reduce signs and symptoms.”
Not wanting to appear on camera, Moore sent an audio message to the television station for the public to hear: “I just want to say a quick thank you. Thank you for your cards, thank you for all the gifts, and most importantly, thank you for your prayers and positive energy. I feel all of it. I’m home now, I’m up and about and doing everything my doctors tell me to do. So for now, I need to be here to focus on my health. I’m surrounded by my family, a very small circle of friends, but also your extended love and support. This journey for me started with an unusual headache so if something’s not right with you, I urge you to please get yourself checked.”
You can read more about Jovita Moore — who underwent surgery in April days after doctors discovered the masses — and her battle against glioblastoma over the past three months in this article written by members of the staff at WSB-TV Channel 2 Action News in Atlanta.
More Information About Glioblastoma
“Glioblastomas (GBM) are tumors that arise from astrocytes — the star-shaped cells that make up the ‘glue-like,’ or supportive tissue of the brain”, according to this article from the American Brain Tumor Association. “These tumors are usually highly malignant (cancerous) because the cells reproduce quickly and they are supported by a large network of blood vessels.”
The odds of surviving glioblastoma are not good. “For adults with more aggressive glioblastoma, treated with concurrent temozolamide and radiation therapy, median survival is about 14.6 months and two-year survival is 30%. However, a 2009 study reported that almost 10% of patients with glioblastoma may live five years or longer.”
Final Boarding Call
This story — about which I first wrote in this article back on Friday, July 30, 2021 — is personal to me for two reasons.
First, even though Jovita Moore and I are not friends — we only met once and she likely did not remember meeting me — one of the things she told me during a discussion we had at the television studio was that she is originally from Queens when she found out that I was originally from Brooklyn; and there was a connection of sorts at that moment. Finding out about a dangerous health condition of someone you know or met is definitely different than simply hearing about it in the news about someone you have never met.
Second, the name of the disease immediately sounded familiar to me when I read it: Kevin Pinto — who used to work for Delta Air Lines and was beloved by many members of the frequent flier community — lost his life at 61 years of age on Saturday, October 8, 2016 after fighting brain cancer for greater than three years. He was also officially diagnosed with glioblastoma. You can read more about Kevin Pinto in this article at The Gate which is dedicated to his memory.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones of Jovita Moore — and may she rest in peace.
Meanwhile, you can honor the memory of Jovita Moore by donation to Our House Atlanta or The National Brain Tumor Society — which are two organizations that were very important to her.
