John Lewis Undergoing Chemo Treatments, Still Working: Friend

ATLANTA, GA — Ambassador Andrew Young, a civil rights activist, gave WGCL an update on 79-year-old Congressman John Lewis’ condition. The two worked together during the movement.

Lewis announced he had stage four pancreatic cancer in December. He has started receiving chemotherapy treatments in Washington, D.C. He said then that he’d resume work on Capitol Hill and he has.

“I talked to his staff assistant and he told me it takes him a day after the chemo, that usually it wipes him out for a day and then he’s back on the job,” Young told the news outlet.

With talk already of how to properly honor his legacy, Young said the discussion should be on keeping his “spirit active in Congress.”

Young said he’s optimistic about the lawmaker's outcome.

“I don’t think he’ll be leaving us soon,” Young said of Lewis. “Pancreatic cancer used to be a death sentence, but we’re all going to die of something. I think there’s a spiritual: ‘I keep so busy serving my master, I ain’t got time to die.’ And John’s that same type.”

A special prayer vigil was held for Lewis on Jan. 13 at the APEX Museum.

He returned to the House floor Jan. 10 cast his first vote since the diagnosis. Lewis voted with Democrats for a resolution that would limit President Donald Trump's power to initiate war against Iran.

Lewis is a member of the Democratic Party leadership in the House and has served as a chief deputy whip since 1991 and senior chief deputy whip since 2003. He has been awarded many honorary degrees, including the highest civilian honor of the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Georgia's 5th Congressional District includes parts of Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton counties, including most of the city of Atlanta. Other cities in the 5th District include Brookhaven, Decatur and South Fulton.