Michael Medved is a vital part of our Discovery Institute family. Stephen Meyer, John West, Bruce Chapman, Jonathan Wells, Paul Nelson, Casey Luskin, Jay Richards, George Gilder, and I have all been on his daily radio program. As much as anyone else in media, he understands the evolution debate and the case for intelligent design, and discusses the questions we write about here in his masterfully lucid way.

Michael, his wife Diane, and their family are also beloved friends of my own family and mine, and have been for many years. In short, I can’t think of anyone I admire more. My admiration for him, though, has unexpectedly been lifted to a new level. In the third hour of his program today, Michael announced that he is taking time off to attend to his health. Faced with the same urgent challenge, could I speak about it so bravely and positively as he did just now? I don’t think so.

He writes on his website:

I always knew that it would take something serious to keep me away from the microphone I cherish for an extended period of time. As it turns out, I am facing something serious. It’s called cancer.

To be more precise, I was diagnosed in the middle of December with stage three throat cancer. I began medical treatment immediately at one of the finest cancer centers in the country and my prognosis for full recovery is very good; in the great majority of cases, this is a highly curable form of cancer. In fact, given my fierce desire to keep doing the show I managed to broadcast every day while completing more than half of my daily radiation and weekly chemotherapy treatments. I would go to the hospital first thing in the morning then make my way down to our Seattle studios to do the live show. The doctors warned me that this would become increasingly difficult.

At this point, my confidence and good spirits would lead me to go on but my voice — the most essential tool in radio – won’t cooperate. So beginning today — Friday, January 30th — I’m taking a medical leave of absence until my recovery is more advanced.

I receive my last scheduled radiation treatment on February 26th. Shortly thereafter, I hope to return to regular broadcasting, well in time to take full, active part in all of the excitement and significance of this pre-election year – the second to last year of the Obama era! The exact time of my return will be determined by my medical progress, but rest assured that I’ll be straining to get back to work just as soon as humanly possible.

I don’t doubt Michael will be back soon, but the immediate side effects of his cancer treatment are no small matter, not least their impact on his voice. They are enough to compel him to step back from his microphone and the extremely important work he loves.

If you’re a person who prays, then please do keep him and his family in your prayers. You should also be aware that Michael, apart from his intellectual leadership, is a fantastically warm, generous, and caring man. In our Jewish context here in the Seattle area, he’s an outstanding communal and spiritual leader as well.

May God bless you, our friend, with a very speedy and complete recovery, and great comfort and strength in the meantime.