Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States and the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is still alive in 2023, at the age of 99. He is the nation’s longest living president, surpassing George H.W. Bush, who died in 2018 at the age of 94. Carter has survived several serious health issues over the years, including brain cancer, falls, infections, and bleeding in the brain.

He has also witnessed the death of his beloved wife, Rosalynn Carter, who passed away in November 2023, at the age of 96. Despite these challenges, Carter has remained active and engaged in his humanitarian work, his faith, and his family.

A Remarkable Life of Service

Jimmy Carter was born in 1924 in Plains, Georgia, a small town where he still lives today. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 and served in the Navy until 1953, when he returned to Georgia to run the family peanut farm.

He entered politics in 1962, when he was elected to the Georgia Senate. He became the governor of Georgia in 1970, and the president of the United States in 1976, defeating the incumbent Gerald Ford.

As president, Carter faced many domestic and foreign challenges, such as the energy crisis, the Iran hostage crisis, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the rise of conservatism.

He also achieved some notable accomplishments, such as brokering the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, establishing diplomatic relations with China, creating the Department of Energy and the Department of Education, and promoting human rights and environmental protection.

Carter lost his re-election bid in 1980 to Ronald Reagan, but he did not retire from public life. He founded the Carter Center in 1982, a non-profit organization that works to advance peace, democracy, health, and human rights around the world.

He has also been involved in various humanitarian causes, such as Habitat for Humanity, the Elders, and the Carter Work Project. He has written over 30 books, taught at Emory University, and received numerous awards and honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

A Year in Hospice Care

In February 2023, Carter announced that he had begun receiving hospice care at his home, after deciding to stop medical treatment for his health problems. He said he was at peace with his decision and grateful for his life. He also thanked his supporters and asked them to pray for him and his family.

Hospice care is a type of palliative care that focuses on improving the quality of life and comfort of patients with terminal illnesses. It is usually provided by a team of professionals, such as doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers, who offer medical, emotional, and spiritual support to the patients and their families. Hospice care can be delivered in various settings, such as hospitals, nursing homes, or the patient’s own home.

Carter’s choice to enter hospice care was a personal one, based on his values, preferences, and goals. He said he wanted to spend his remaining time with his family, especially his wife Rosalynn, whom he married in 1946 and had four children, 12 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren with. He also wanted to continue his work with the Carter Center, as much as he could, and to keep his faith in God.

Carter’s hospice journey has been an inspiration and a lesson for many people, as he has shown courage, grace, and dignity in facing his mortality. He has also challenged the stigma and misconceptions that often surround hospice care, and demonstrated its benefits and possibilities.

According to Dr. Holly Yang, president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Carter’s public experience has changed the narrative about end-of-life care and encouraged more people to have conversations about their wishes and options.

A Supportive Father of the Bride

One of the highlights of Carter’s hospice journey was attending the wedding of his granddaughter, Chelsea Carter, to actor Chris Pratt, in June 2023.

The wedding took place at the Carter family farm in Plains, Georgia, and was attended by about 150 guests, including celebrities, politicians, and friends. Carter, who was 98 at the time, walked Chelsea down the aisle and gave a touching speech at the reception. He also danced with his wife Rosalynn, who was 95, and posed for photos with the newlyweds and other family members.

Chelsea Carter, 33, is the daughter of Chip Carter, the eldest son of Jimmy and Rosalynn. She is a lawyer and a human rights activist, who works as the director of democracy programs at the Carter Center. She met Chris Pratt, 43, in 2021, when he visited the Carter Center as part of his research for a movie role.

They hit it off and started dating, and got engaged in December 2022. Pratt, who is best known for his roles in Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World, and Parks and Recreation, said he was honored and humbled to join the Carter family and to have Jimmy’s blessing.

The wedding was a joyful and emotional occasion for the Carter family, as they celebrated Chelsea and Chris’s love and Jimmy and Rosalynn’s legacy. It was also one of the last public appearances of Rosalynn, who died five months later, after a brief battle with dementia. Jimmy, who was devastated by her loss, said she was the love of his life and his best friend, and that he hoped to see her again in heaven.

A Legendary Legacy

Jimmy Carter is still alive in 2023, but he knows that his time is limited. He has said that he is ready to die, whenever God calls him, and that he has no regrets or fears. He has also said that he is proud of his life and his achievements, and that he hopes to be remembered as a good and honest person, who tried to make the world a better place.

Carter’s legacy is indeed remarkable and admirable, as he has dedicated his life to serving his country and humanity, with humility, compassion, and integrity. He has been a leader, a peacemaker, a humanitarian, a philanthropist, a teacher, a writer, and a role model. He has also been a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather, who cherished his family and his faith.

Carter’s legacy will live on through his family, his friends, his followers, and his beneficiaries. It will also live on through his institutions, his books, his awards, and his deeds. He has left an indelible mark on history, and on the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world.

Conclusion

Jimmy Carter is still alive in 2023, at the age of 99. He is the nation’s longest living president, and one of the most respected and influential figures of our time. He has faced many challenges and hardships in his life, but he has also achieved many accomplishments and honors. He has lived a life of service, faith, and love, and he has inspired and touched countless lives. He is a living legend, and a national treasure.