from Hacker News

Bill Atkinson has pancreatic cancer

by incanus77 on 11/14/24, 12:55 AM with 38 comments

  • by canucker2016 on 11/14/24, 3:06 AM

    https://archive.is/9PJTq

        Request for Prayers
    November 12, 2024

    I am asking friends and well-wishers to pray for me. 
    I believe that group intention can actually make a difference.

    On October first, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Because of vascular involvement, surgery is not possible. I am taking weekly chemo treatments to shrink the tumor before surgical resection. I am tolerating the chemo pretty well, and I am in good spirits. Every day I make a point of getting out in the sun and walking with Cai and Poppy.

    I am receiving excellent care for my physical body from a team of doctors and nurses at Stanford and UCSF. I am also receiving several different modalities of holistic treatments for my emotional and spiritual health. The treatments are helping, and I am feeling much less pain now. I am even regaining a little of the weight that I lost.

    From my Iboga experience seven years ago, I know for certain that my consciousness and memories will continue after I leave my physical body. I have no existential fear of death. Actually more anticipation and curiosity.

    At 73 years, I have already lived an amazing and wonderful life. I have loved and been loved, beginning with my remarkable mother who believed in me. With my work at Apple and General Magic I am grateful that I could make positive contributions to the lives of many millions of people, and even affect the course of human evolution.

    But I want more quality time to share life and experiences with Cai and with my friends and family. My bucket list is not filled with places to travel, but instead with quality time with those I love and those who love me.

    I am living my life filled with gratitude. Each day is a special gift to be unwrapped, enjoyed, and cherished. 

    Thank you for praying for me.

    Bill Atkinson

  • by incanus77 on 11/14/24, 1:40 AM

    MacPaint, QuickDraw, Hypercard, Atkinson dithering... a true legend.

  • by bhouston on 11/15/24, 6:41 PM

    I initial thought it was a weird coincidence that both him and Steve Jobs got pancreatic cancer. But then I checked and the lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer for a man is like 1:50, which is sort of insane:

    https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/pancreatic-cancer/about/...

  • by toomuchtodo on 11/14/24, 1:18 AM

  • by canucker2016 on 11/14/24, 3:19 AM

    Steve Jobs also had pancreatic cancer.

    Quincy Jones just died from pancreatic cancer.

  • by freediver on 11/14/24, 5:35 AM

    Leo Reporte with Atkinson on Hypercard

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdJKjBHCh18

  • by mmastrac on 11/15/24, 6:57 PM

    Is this the reason for the current black bar?

    EDIT: Maybe Thomas Kurtz? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42141761

  • by pvaldes on 11/14/24, 12:29 PM

    [flagged]