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Elizabeth Edwards on Campaigning with Cancer
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ShareJuly 21, 2007 12:59 PM
ABC News' Raelyn Johnson reports: It's been four months since Elizabeth Edwards announced her cancer had returned. Often with her husband, she has kept up an impressive schedule of campaigning, speaking engagements, house parties and fundraising all for the man she believes this country needs to be the next president of the United States.
Today in a compelling account to the Wall Street Journal, Elizabeth reveals that while she feels her husband John Edwards' campaign is "worthy" of her "precious time" she admits that she struggles with her choices. And those struggles happen both at home and on the campaign trail.
On a recent weekend enjoying some downtime with her Edwards and her two young children, 9-year-old Emma Claire and 7-year-old Jack, Elizabeth finds herself comforting them about an upcoming bone scan to would determine if her cancer had spread. Together the Edwards' have made the decision to be equally honest and reassuring to their children about their mother's incurable cancer. When Jack asks who will be the grandmother to his children, Elizabeth chokes up and is unable to answer.
Earlier this week it was revealed that her July bone scans were successful. "There's nothing new to report," said Elizabeth in a Town Hall meeting on Good Morning America. "The doctor's suggested that was going to be the case, that we're not going to get a lot of information in the early scans."
On the campaign trail, Elizabeth is the subject of both a lot of praise and criticism. She receives prayers and well wishes from the crowds of people who come to see here. And when she's not present, people often send their regards to her through her husband.
At a recent campaign stop she picked up a young boy for a picture and afterwards said, "Maybe I shouldn't have done that," as she is to be cautious about breaking her bones where cancer has spread, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Despite the admirers both young and old, Elizabeth's cancer has been the source of a lot of criticism. "I worry if this is right, but I don't have any good choices," she told the Journal in response to the criticisms, some of which insist that voters should consider if it's worth it to donate to her husband's campaign, given the chance that her condition could worsen causing Edwards to drop out of the race.
And with Elizabeth's prognosis come questions of her survival rate. "That just doesn't apply to me," she said to the Journal when asked about a statistic that places her with a 20% chance of survival beyond five years. "My job is to stay alive until the medicine and research catch up."
And when the Journal reporter asked Edwards if he saw himself winning the White House without his first lady of nearly 30 years he simply responded, "I reject that possibility."
July 21, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (5)
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Living with cancer can be trying. Her path to having a successful life is doing what she is doing. I came back from cancer surgery that left me without a lower left mandible, half a tongue, and various other complications caused by radiation. Nine years later I am still cancer free, and I live close to a normal life. She should stay active but avoid stressful situations like that call to Ann Coulter. I hope mrs Edwards becomes 1st lady. We should be so fortunate.
Posted by: cliff jones | Jul 21, 2007 1:21:32 PM
Elizabeth Edwards is a lady with a lot of grace and class. If it were me, I'd have cussed that evil witch Ann the Man Coulter out.
I wish Mrs. Edwards the best and am praying for her recovery.
I've heard that they've discovered a cure for cancer in Canada. But of course big pharma in the U.S. would block it from every getting to us here. Cancer is a big business in the U.S.
Posted by: Kristen | Jul 21, 2007 11:45:18 PM
God Bless Mrs. Edwards. I pray she finds healing. My own sister died a few months ago of cancer. I know the pain this disease gives the victim and their family. While I keep her and her family in my prayers for her healing, I find it very wrong of Mr. Edwards to be dragging his deathly ill wife around the nation in a quest for his own goals. Surely, it would be best for her children and family for their life to be normal and at home, instead of taking the children out of school and dragging them also along the campaign trail. The campaign is difficult and energy depleting for a healthy person, let alone a woman fighting cancer. Its appalling that Mr. Edwards is not taking a stand and saying no to having his wife deplete her resources by going with. In any case, I pray she gets healed.
Posted by: Pamela | Jul 22, 2007 12:52:27 AM
I think this is Mrs Edwards's decision to make.If she feels that she should go along with her husband,then I support her.May God bless her and her entire family.I grearly admire her courage.
Posted by: cincigal74 | Jul 22, 2007 7:05:58 PM
I have just finished reading Mrs. Edwards's book, "Saving Graces". It was just so moving,heartfelt,and touching beyond imagination... I truly wish her the very best, for she has taught me a life long lesson I will NEVER forget: the meaning of friends and family across the world.Even though I am not an American and therefore can't vote for Mr. John Edwards,I pray for him to win.I pray for the recovery of his wonderfully loving wife.I pray for dear Wade who reminds me of my own brother who was born dead.I pray for understanding Cate and sweet Emma-Clair and Jack.May God be with you all.
Posted by: Lana | Dec 9, 2007 6:56:19 PM
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