Senate President Jeff Atwater has sent out this memo to the 40-member Senate:

President and Mrs. King asked that I forward on to all of you the statement below from Sarah Bascom, King family spokesperson, on President King's recent diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Having spoken with President King this morning, I can tell you that he is his usual positive self as we spoke of the upcoming fight.  Jim inspired me to have hope and even in the aftermath of such heartbreaking news, he made

me laugh and cry all with a smile, as only Jim can.

I ask that you all keep our friends, Jim and Linda, and their entire family in your prayers.

Statement by Sarah Bascom, family spokesperson for Senator Jim King, on the

health status of Senator Jim King:

Tallahassee, Fla.  “During a recent routine post-legislative session checkup, Senator Jim King was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  While Senator King plans to seek additional medical counsel and aggressive treatment, he is aware that this particular type of cancer is difficult to treat and manage, and that the outcomes are, at best, guarded.

 

“Senator King plans to battle this disease with the same fighting spirit he has exhibited his entire life, in business and in politics.  At this time, Senator King has every intention of serving in the Florida Senate for the remainder of his term, which ends in November of 2010.

 

“While the family has appreciated all of the concerned well-wishers who have called, they want to continue their lives with as much regularity as possible.  They ask that their privacy please be respected and will have no further comment at this time.”