My heart really sank this morning with the news that Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, has cancer in her bones. They couple, married 30 years, held a press conference this morning to discuss the health of Mrs. Edwards and are optimistic that with treatment, they will continue with their lives as before which includes her husband continuing to run for the White House.
"From our perspective, there was no reason to stop," John Edwards said. "I don't think we seriously thought about it. You can go cower in the corner and hide or you can go out there and stand up for what you believe in. We have no intentions of cowering in the corner."
Elizabeth Edwards, 57, said she was "incredibly optimistic" and said her expectations about the future were unchanged. "I expect to do next week all the things I did last week. And the week after that, and next year at the same time."
Mrs. Edwards said she was fortunate that she felt pain from a cracked rib and got X-rays that revealed the cancer.Dr. Lisa Carey, the oncologist treating Edwards, categorized the cancer as metastatic Stage 4 cancer, which is largely confined to the bones. She said the prognosis was good.
She first underwent treatment for breast cancer after the 2004 campaign in which her husband was the Democratic vice presidential nominee. John Edwards, who was campaigning in Iowa, cut short the rest of his schedule on Tuesday to be with his spouse. The two went to see the doctor together Wednesday.
Most national polls show him running third behind Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.
Edwards and his wife met in law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They married in 1977 and have had four children. Their first child, Wade, was killed in a 1996 car accident. In her 2006 book, "Saving Graces," Elizabeth Edwards wrote about her life, including cancer treatment and the death of her son.
In watching the Edwards' together, it's easy to root for them. They are so unlike most political couples who are so scripted anbd stiff. They seem to really love each other very much and most of all, respect each other. She is an intelligent and articulate woman who speaks her mind but does so in a way that doesn't cause her husband political trouble. I would love to see her in the White House as our first lady. It would be a nice change from the Stepford-like Laura Bush who, while charming, has not used that position as effectively as many of her predecessors have.