THE IMAGE OF STRENGTH,RIP ELIZABETH EDWARDS

Today, one of the rarest kind of human beings left in this world was chosen to become an angel. Elizabeth Edwards,who was born Mary Elizabeth Anania, was such an inspiration to so many women living with breast cancer. Throughout the six years she had been battling this sickness, she never gave up hope. I'm truly saddened by her passing. When I would see her on TV doing different interviews, every time she would speak about her cancer,not one time did I see her cry or try to create pity for herself. She always held herself in such a graceful and dignified manner. However, her life doesn't begin with her battle with cancer.

She was born in Jacksonville, Florida on July 3rd of 1949. Being the daughter of a United States Navy pilot was never easy on her because  she went from military base to military base. For most of her childhood, she lived in Japan while her father was stationed there. According to Elizabeth, the hardest part for her was having to move during her senior year of high school. She went on to graduate, then attended an university where she received her Bachelor's Degree.After 3 years of postgraduate studies in English, she went on to attend law school and earned her Juris Doctor.

Law school was where she met the man who would become her husband, John Edwards, and were married July 30, 1977. Elizabeth was blessed to become the mother for four children: Wade(who died at the age of 16 during a freak storm), Cate, Emma Claire, and Jack. She was not only a mother but also a Democratic political figure.

On November 3,2004, Elizabeth was diagnosed with breast cancer. She became an activist for cancer patients and for women's health. She became their image of hope, although their was no hope for her. Even through this dificult time for her, she had to handle her husband's infidelity and his fathering a child with his mistress. She held her composure as the graceful lady that she was and only continued with what was truly important in her life at the moment, her children and her battle against cancer.

Unfortunately, on December 6,2010, the Edwards announced that Elizabeth would stop all treatment after her doctors said that any further treatment would just be unproductive. She posted her last Facebook status as the following:

" 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. 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. It isn't possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel to everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know"

 Elizabeth Edwards was a mother, wife, lawyer, political figure, activist,cancer fighter, but above all, she was an incredible woman. She has been my idol and I can only strive to be half the woman she was. She, truly, was an angel living among us.