Jovita Moore, a longtime Atlanta news anchor, has died after battling cancer for months. The anchor underwent surgery for a tumor on her brain in April after she was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer, 11 Alive reports.
Moore, who began her career in 1990 in Arkansas, has been working with WSB-TV in Atlanta since 1998. She earned several accolades during her career, including multiple Emmy Awards. The beloved journalist was also honored by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Southeast Chapter and inducted into the Silver Circle.
Moore shared a message to her supporters in July.
"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," she said. "I’m surrounded by 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. Again, thank you for all the love, prayers and support. Keep sending the prayers and positivity my way. Thank you."
Moore's surgeon, Dr. Edjah Nduom, said glioblastoma is the most common type of brain cancer, WSB-TV reports. The doctor added that the disease is not hereditary and it's not related to a patient’s diet or lifestyle.
“A glioma is a type of tumor that comes from the support cells of the brain. It doesn’t come from anywhere else in the body it starts there and they’re very aggressive,” Nduom said. “That’s one of the reasons I’m so desperate to continue to work on better treatments for these patients. They didn’t earn this. They didn’t bring it upon themselves, they’re just in a tough situation and we’re trying to find the best way to make them better.”
The journalist's colleagues have been among her biggest supporters.
“Our girl is strong. Our girl is a fighter and she’s doing great every day,” WSB-TV community and public affairs director Condace Pressley said in July.
Pressley described the anchor as a very strong woman who was raising three very strong kids.
“We laugh and you know sometimes we talk about stuff and we may cry a little bit. But at the end of the day, she is a fighter, and she is surrounded by love and prayers and positivity,” Pressley said.
Nduom said it is critical for a patient to have a strong support system.
“All of these things play into patients who do better when they face a disease like this and I got to tell you, Ms. Moore’s got one of the best teams I’ve ever seen,” he said.
