Today Elizabeth Edwards lost her battle with breast cancer. Beyond that, her family has lost a daughter, sister and mother. The healthcare community and breast cancer patients everywhere has lost one of its own and an extraordinary and tireless advocate. While I am not interested in the politics, I admired her grace under pressure, composure and resilience as she dealt with her disease while supporting her ex-husband’s political campaign and then the embarrassment he brought to their personal lives. Many women would crack under that pressure alone but publicly we never saw that. She held her head high with dignity and respected all she came into contact with, even when she was speaking her mind. She earned love, admiration and respect from all. As a cancer registrar I most admire her influence on cancer research in order to find a cure for this horrible disease. Not only will she be missed at home but she will be missed in our community for many years to come. I pray for her children and family as they deal with their grief and begin finding closure and peace!
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