While announcing he has been diagnosed with “advanced lung cancer,” conservative talk radio icon Rush Limbaugh also told his viewers he has a “deeply personal relationship with God.”
Limbaugh shared the news about his health during his Monday broadcast, telling listeners he first felt discomfort on his birthday, Jan. 12, and was diagnosed Jan. 20. The radio host said he will likely miss some programs due to treatments.
He also spoke candidly about his faith.
“I told the staff today that I have a deeply personal relationship with God that I do not proselytize about, but I do, and I have been working that relationship tremendously, which I do anyway, but I’ve been focused on it intensely for the past couple of weeks,” Limbaugh said.
The 69-year-old commentator, known for his provocative political opinions, said he is experiencing “zero symptoms” from his recent diagnosis.
Shortly after Limbaugh revealed his diagnosis, tweets calling for prayer and healing began pouring in. In fact, the hashtag #PrayersforRush was trending on Twitter Monday afternoon.
Among the most noticeable was a tweet posted by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii), who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“May your hearts and minds be filled with and strengthened by God’s love,” wrote Gabbard, who describes herself as being raised in a “multi-faith family,” practicing both Hindu and Christian traditions.
Limbaugh, whose show has been on the air for more than 30 years and averages 27 million listeners, described Monday as “one of the most difficult days in recent memory, for me, because I’ve known this moment was coming.”
“I’m sure that you all know by now that I really don’t like talking about myself and I don’t like making things about me,” he added.
Please continue to pray for Limbaugh, his wife Kathryn Adams, and the rest of the popular talk radio host’s family.