Elizabeth Edwards' energy is inspiring

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070707/OPINION05/707070309/1006/OPINION

Originally published July 7, 2007
Elizabeth Edwards' energy is inspiring
By Sue Hutchison
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS

When Elizabeth Edwards stormed the Bay Area in a flurry of energetic appearances on behalf of the John Edwards campaign, perhaps the message she sent most loud and clear had nothing to do with her husband's presidential aspirations. The subtext was: "Yes, this is what a cancer patient looks like."

Those who attended a recent fundraiser for the Edwards campaign where Elizabeth made a solo appearance were struck by her vitality despite the breast cancer that has metastasized to her bones. Even though she dispensed with the issue of her health right at the beginning of her speech, many of those who attended went to be inspired by her determination to keep on fighting.

Amanda Hawes, whose law firm represents people who have been exposed to toxic chemicals, invited some cancer patients to the private event. She said they wanted to talk to Elizabeth Edwards about issues you rarely hear discussed right after a campaign speech. "One woman I brought wanted to ask her how she manages her chemo treatments while traveling," Hawes told me.

It may be that Edwards will do more for raising awareness about where we are with breast cancer treatments and research than all the pink-ribbon campaigns of the past 20 years. Barbara Brenner, a survivor of breast cancer and head of the advocacy group Breast Cancer Action in San Francisco, said that Edwards has become the new face of the disease.

"The first thing I would say to her if I met her is 'Thank you for sharing your life in such a public way,'" Brenner said. "I'm hoping that people out there watching her on the campaign trail will start asking questions about why there aren't better treatments by now and why we can't even tell women at the time of diagnosis what kind of breast cancer they have and the best ways to treat it - or not treat it."

In the meantime, Edwards' commitment to her husband's campaign has been her most powerful response to those who were outraged three months ago when he didn't drop out of the race to be at her side. "She's not just going home and closing the drapes," said Michelle Kraus, an entrepreneur who attended the fundraiser. "You can see that the spirit of the campaign is keeping her well. It's driving her."

FULL story at link.

[DeadElephant_ORG]

1. the "how dare he run while she's sick" canard has died away

[flamingyouth]

2. She is extremely inspiring.

As someone who is battling cancer, I am in awe of her energy and enthusiasm. I appreciate her openness about cancer and her treatment and I really enjoyed seeing her on Ted Koppel's special on the Discovery Channel a couple of months ago.

Thank you, Elizabeth. :patriot: