Elizabeth Edwards

I heard yesterday that Elizabeth Edwards had lost her battle with cancer. Although I am not personally acquainted with her, it was her book RESILIENCE that I read when i first started treatments last year. It seemed like I was at the cancer center every week, for blood work, doctor's appointments, etc and I brought that book along and read while I was waiting. She showed so much strength, dignity and courage as she faced so many different devastating events in her life. One thing she wrote has stuck with me: "Cancer has changed you and changed you forever. You will never be the same person again... but change does not necessarily mean it's bad.. change is just change".  I underlined those lines, memorized them and then believed them. During the darkest moments I faced, when I wished all the pain will just be done already, I remembered those lines and said them out loud and re-assured myself that I am changed, but the change may actually be better. And now, 18 months after I started the treatments and 2 years post-diagnosis, I know I have changed for the better. I am more focused and the focus is on what's really important in life: God, family and my purpose. Everything else fall's under that, right?  I am sad today because I know that Elizabeth's children and her family are grieving and will be missing her. She lived such a public life and has shown grace through it all. I admire her courage and her purpose to live her life for her children.  I'm glad that she wrote her book.. she has shown that we as human beings are RESILIENT and we can and do make a difference, even if it's just for one other person. I'm glad she fought and fought valiantly and I'm so grateful she shared her story with us... I will be forever thankful that she embraced the changes that breast cancer has brought in her life; in doing so, it had given me the courage I needed  to embrace the changes that happened to me. Good-bye, Elizabeth and thank you for sharing yourself with others...