NEWSElizabeth Edwards Dies After Battling Cancer for 6 Years
Dec. 7 2010, Published 11:24 a.m. ET
After multiple news sources reported that Elizabeth Edwards, the estranged wife of former Presidential candidate John Edwards, has died after battling breast cancer for six years, the family has released a statement to the media confirming the sad news.
"Today we have lost the comfort of Elizabeth's presence but she remains the heart of this family," the Edwards family says in a statement. "We love her and will never know anyone more inspiring or full of life. On behalf of Elizabeth we want to express our gratitude to the thousands of kindred spirits who moved and inspired her along the way. Your support and prayers touched our entire family."
This week reports said her cancer had metastasized to her liver. It was recommended then that she stop all cancer treatments.
Over Thanksgiving, Elizabeth was hospitalized briefly. She then spent her time with family, and a statement was released on her condition. "Elizabeth has been advised by her doctors that further treatment of her cancer would be unproductive," the statement read. "She is resting at home with family and friends."
REMEMBERING ELIZABETH EDWARDS — LIFE IN THE PUBLIC EYE:
While she supported John on his campaign to be Vice President in 2004, alongside Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry, as well as his bid for the White House in 2008, Elizabeth was very active in her own campaigns. She testified before Congress multiple times about health issues, was honored with awards like the accolades she received from Lance Armstrong during the Glamour Women of the Year Awards in 2007, and was a book author as well.
OK! NEWS: ELIZABETH EDWARDS DIES AFTER BATTLING CANCER FOR 6 YEARS
A statement on the behalf of her family announced the sad news today, reading: “Today we have lost the comfort of Elizabeth’s presence but she remains the heart of this family,” the Edwards family says in a statement. “We love her and will never know anyone more inspiring or full of life. On behalf of Elizabeth we want to express our gratitude to the thousands of kindred spirits who moved and inspired her along the way. Your support and prayers touched our entire family.”
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ABC News cites a close friend of the family, who says that John was by her side in the last few days at her home in Chapel Hill, N.C., describing the environment at her home as "warm and peaceful."
Elizabeth recently wrote on her Facebook page as well, and seemed to be coming to terms with what would be the end of her life.
"You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces – my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope," she wrote. "These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined."
"The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human."
"But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful."
She split from husband John in January after a scandal broke revealing that he had had an affair and fathered a daughter with another woman. They had four children over their 30-year-marriage, the eldest, Wade, died in 1996 at 16. She is survived by her other children, Cate, 28, Emma Claire, 12, and Jack, 10.
