On Elizabeth Edwards and the return of her cancer

The breast cancer of Elizabeth Edwards has returned in an advanced form and has spread beyond the breast to the bone.  While the doctors say it is incurable, it is treatable.  Her husband John Edwards offered to pull out of the presidential race to stay by her side, but she insisted he stay in and he will.

My feelings are confused.  I  feel bad for them both and then heartened by their courage and puzzled by their decision.  Who would put themselves through the rigors of a campaign when the days may be short?

But then again, who knows?

Dean Barnett, who had his own body blow of a sudden diagnosis 11 years ago has some understanding of what they are going through.

I think I have some understanding and I know I have some sympathy. They’re working through all of this. Their first instinct is not to surrender. That’s good, and it’s what you would have expected. People who seek the presidency aren’t the types who give up or even compromise easily.

THROUGH THE YEARS, I’VE COME TO VIEW SERIOUS and progressive illness as an ever constricting circle with oneself at the center. The interior of the circle represents the contents of one’s life. As the circle gets smaller, things that were inside get forced out. Some of these things are dearly missed; other items that were once thought precious get forced to the exterior and turn out to go surprisingly unlamented.
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The Edwards have begun their own journey of that sort. Whether they still find presidential politics at the center of their lives a few months from now is an open question. Regardless, the journey is theirs, and one would have a heart of stone to wish them anything other than good luck and Godspeed.

He's right. Best wishes and good luck to them both.