Posted on 03/22/2007 9:46:14 AM PDT by Froufrou
Democrat presidential hopeful John Edwards focused on the health of his wife, Elizabeth, and his political future on Thursday, his personal and professional life inexorably linked.
The couple planned a news conference in Chapel Hill, N.C., to discuss their plans Thursday a day after visiting doctors who are monitoring Mrs. Edwards' recovery from breast cancer.
Rival Democratic candidates went through the motions of the campaign and family and friends waited anxiously for word of Edwards' decision.
In a morning staff meeting at the campaign's headquarters in Chapel Hill, senior campaign staff members declined to talk about both the announcement and Mrs. Edwards' health when asked when asked by rank and file staff, said fundraiser Lee Hamilton.
Hamilton said the campaign planned to keep whatever they are going to announce private until the noon news conference.
Any decision by Edwards about the future of his campaign would dramatically alter the race for the party's nomination. Edwards, who has registered double digits in public opinion polls, has been considered a top-tier candidate although he trails front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.
Edwards campaign officials refused to answer any questions about what the couple learned at the doctor's appointment or how it might affect Edwards' second presidential bid. Edwards had cut short a trip to Iowa to be with his wife but still attended a barbecue fundraiser Wednesday evening in Chapel Hill, their hometown.
The campaign had said Mrs. Edwards, 57, had a follow-up appointment Wednesday to a routine test she had Monday. The campaign explained that she had similar follow-ups in the past but they always resulted in a clean bill of health.
The campaign refused to describe what happened this time.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
My first mother-in-law suffered the same fate. At her request, I quit smoking. I'm very deeply sorry for your loss, and mine.
Margaret, thanks for sharing. I didn't know anything of Elizabeth's history. A dear friend recently had a mastectomy with reconstruction and has been advised by her doctors that she won't need chemo or radiation. She lost her mom to breast cancer a few years ago.
I can understand your thinking, but who are we to judge and how do we know that in a private conversation she didnt say to him to keep up the campaigning.
I have to say, there are things more important than money, power, influence and jobs.
That neither of them want their family, children and love to be the centerpiece of this hard time...it makes me wonder about them.
Hi Froufrou. My post wasn't directed at you. You just happened to post the article. It was directed at all of the nasty posters. With a personal tragedy like this, it just seems time to put the political comments on hold.
My mother had breast cancer in 1993. She's 87 and can still score under 100 at golf. Bad news is that I can't get her to a doctor for a check up. Worse news is that she's an MD so I can't tell her anything when it comes to health. My mother did have chemo and radiation following her mastectomy. BTW, she discovered the lump with self-examination; that breast-moosher thing didn't pick it up. I have yet to have a mammogram.
I knew you didn't direct it 'at' me. It was helpful and I wanted to thank you for it.
Even though the mammogram didn't help in your mom's case, you really should still get one.
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