Elizabeth Edwards' cancer returns
Categories: Celeb parenting
Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic Presidential hopeful John Edwards, has announced that her cancer has returned. Mrs. Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, on the same day that her husband and running mate John Kerry conceded the Presidential election. This time around, Mrs. Edwards has been diagnosed with metastic, or Stage IV, breast cancer. This type of cancer is treatable but incurable; patients with metastic breast cancer have slightly more than a 25% chance of living longer than five years.
John Edwards is being criticized for continuing to campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination in the face of his wife's diagnosis, but people close to the campaign have said that this is what Mrs. Edwards wants. According to the New York Times, "Mr. Edwards made his priorities clear. 'Any time, any place that I need to be with Elizabeth," he said, "I will be there, period.'" Mrs. Edwards has said that she feels fine, and that she doesn't want her husband at home staring at her. She prefers that he continue campaigning, and plans to continue her own work for the campaign.
Elizabeth Edwards and her husband have three children: Cate, 25, Emma Claire, 8, and Jack, 6. Their son Wade was killed in a car crash in 1996, when he was 16. After his death, the couple went through fertility treatments to have their two younger children. Mrs. Edwards wrote about her experiences in her book, Saving Graces.
I find Mrs. Edwards' story wrenching not because I agree with her husband's politics, but because she is a mother and I can imagine what it is like to walk in her shoes. I have a son the same age as Jack Edwards, and twice in the past three years I have had cancer scares; both times, I have been lucky and what could have been something horrible has turned out to be essentially nothing. Each time, in the waiting period between the initial consultation and the test results, I have found myself thinking about what it would be like for my children if I were diagnosed with cancer, and what it would be like for them if I were to die. Each time my test results have been good, and I have been able to go on with my life. And each time I have felt as though I dodged a bullet.
When my husband and I talked about this today, I told him that if I were in Mrs. Edwards' shoes, I would want our life to go on the way it is now to whatever extent was possible; I would NOT want my husband to quit his job and stay home waiting for me to die. In a press conference on Thursday, Elizabeth Edwards has said that "I expect to do all the things next week that I did last week." Any one--any woman, any mother, any person--facing cancer should hope to do so much.
John Edwards is being criticized for continuing to campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination in the face of his wife's diagnosis, but people close to the campaign have said that this is what Mrs. Edwards wants. According to the New York Times, "Mr. Edwards made his priorities clear. 'Any time, any place that I need to be with Elizabeth," he said, "I will be there, period.'" Mrs. Edwards has said that she feels fine, and that she doesn't want her husband at home staring at her. She prefers that he continue campaigning, and plans to continue her own work for the campaign.
Elizabeth Edwards and her husband have three children: Cate, 25, Emma Claire, 8, and Jack, 6. Their son Wade was killed in a car crash in 1996, when he was 16. After his death, the couple went through fertility treatments to have their two younger children. Mrs. Edwards wrote about her experiences in her book, Saving Graces.
I find Mrs. Edwards' story wrenching not because I agree with her husband's politics, but because she is a mother and I can imagine what it is like to walk in her shoes. I have a son the same age as Jack Edwards, and twice in the past three years I have had cancer scares; both times, I have been lucky and what could have been something horrible has turned out to be essentially nothing. Each time, in the waiting period between the initial consultation and the test results, I have found myself thinking about what it would be like for my children if I were diagnosed with cancer, and what it would be like for them if I were to die. Each time my test results have been good, and I have been able to go on with my life. And each time I have felt as though I dodged a bullet.
When my husband and I talked about this today, I told him that if I were in Mrs. Edwards' shoes, I would want our life to go on the way it is now to whatever extent was possible; I would NOT want my husband to quit his job and stay home waiting for me to die. In a press conference on Thursday, Elizabeth Edwards has said that "I expect to do all the things next week that I did last week." Any one--any woman, any mother, any person--facing cancer should hope to do so much.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michelle 3-24-2007 @ 11:45AM
I just wonder who is going to be there for the kids? If they didn't have very young children, it would make sense to go on as normal. But these 6 and 8 year old kids are going to have a mother who is having multiple medical appointments, undergoing treatment that will leave her not feeling well, and facing possible death. Meanwhile, during the hardest time in their young lives, their father is on the campaign trail - not there supporting his kids. He doesn't have to give up doing anything and "sit there and stare at her", but running for president seems a little selfish - why is no one thinking about these poor children?
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LS 3-24-2007 @ 1:12PM
My second reaction (my first was the same as Michelle's) was, how can he possibly keep a promise like, "Any time, any place that I need to be with Elizabeth...I will be there, period." What happens if he gets the Dem Nomination, and on the day of the big debate, she has a setback, and needs him with her. What does he choose then?
Seems like he's young enough to be able to say, "I'm going to sit this race out to be with my family, because that's what a husband and father does. But I will be back to run next time."
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Maria P. 3-24-2007 @ 1:59PM
If were in the position to do so I would want my husband to quit job. Not necessarily to wait for me to die or to be at my beck and call but definately be with me when I needed him but most importantly to soak up every last minute of our time together.
I would do the same for him. I couldn't think of being away all the time if I knew he was so ill and not going to be around much longer.
I'm surprised and frankly a bit disgusted that Edwards would continue to be on the campaign trail with this kind of news on his hands.
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Mamacita 3-24-2007 @ 2:16PM
Mrs. Edwards has stated her wishes and it is nobody else's business. If I were in her shoes, I would not expect the planet to stop turning just because of me, either! Life goes on. I think she is a woman who knows who she is and is comfortable with it.
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Jen 3-24-2007 @ 4:41PM
My thoughts are: what if he wins the Presidency. She has a 75% chance of dying in the next 5 years. What will happen to those kids in the event she does and their Dad is President. Also, what if he is elected and she is not doing well at all. Will he drop his duties as President then to be with her?
Obviously, something like this could happen to any sitting President, but in this case he knows his wife does not have a good prognosis even before he potentially takes office.
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Dr. Hal 3-24-2007 @ 11:52PM
I believe the Edward's have a wonderful attitude toward life in spite of the diagnosis of cancer. They are planning on living each day to the fullest. I have blogged about the Edward's focus on "Winning the Moment" at http://www.northstarmentalfitnessblog. A wonderful couple living life with courage, commitment and focus.
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Christine 3-25-2007 @ 12:46PM
I too have just been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer - after passing the 5 year survivor mark last year. I am still working, as is my husband and we are continuing our lives as "normally" as possible. We have a 13 year old daughter and my goal is to see her graduate from high school, and then college, and then watch her get married and have children.
What else is there to do? Stop living, stay home and wait to die?! That is giving the cancer way too much power. I want my daughter to see that if you have goals and don't focus on yourself you can get through the tough times.
John and Elizabeth are doing what is right for them and their family. When you see them together you see the strength they give to each other. I wish them both all the best.
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Giacomo 3-26-2007 @ 7:40PM
As Elizabeth Edwards' cancer
spreads, is it appropriate for John Edwards to continue his political campaign?
http://www.unregisterednews.com/content/view/97/52/
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Linda 3-27-2007 @ 6:56AM
It's unfair to say "why is no one thinking of these poor children?" It's obvious Mr and Mrs. Edwards love their children very much and we don't know their children and how they are handling this. I would not want my husband to quit his job and be with me every second. It would scare me and our children. Let's have positive thoughts for the Edwards family in their time of need.
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Ellin Regan 3-27-2007 @ 1:06PM
I would not be quick to judge what the Edwards have
decided is best for them both. It would appear that
they are very close and both in this together.
Elizabeth is a very bright woman and knows what she
is doing.
As she has pointed out the worst day of her life
had already happened with the death of their son.
My prayers are for her and the rest of her family.
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Christine 3-27-2007 @ 2:02PM
Well the flip side of the what if she dies coin is -- what if she lives? Someone said why not say -- "I'll be back next time" -- well what if she lives and next time is when she actually heads downhill?
As for Edwards, I happen to think he is the man for the job, and I think that the Vice Presidency would be filled with someone who he feels would be capable to take the reins for a little while if needed. Isnt that usually the case?? Our sitting President could DIE at any time of a heart attack or something exotic... or just natural causes... I think we have a system in place for that situation.
I think that his family seems very bound together... and if they want to keep running... and win.. then I think our country will be the better for it. This is real life-- and these things happen even to our leaders -- but we arent a monarchy -- so if he needs some days off, well then I suppose that he just wont be spending his vacation days bbqing in Crawford or Camp David. (That wasnt a jab as much as it was a point that our Presidents take plenty of days off.....)
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daryday 4-07-2007 @ 10:43PM
For the real lessons to be learned from Mrs. Edwards cancer, log on to darydaysow.com
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dary day 4-07-2007 @ 10:46PM
What can you really learn from Mrs. Edwards' cancer?
why is this a referundum to the election? Log on to darydayshow.com
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dary day 4-15-2007 @ 7:36PM
To learn the real lessons of Mrs. Edwards' cancer, log on to darydayshow.com
Reply