important to you. and you press forward with that. >> reporter: four years later, another blow. just as her husband returned to the campaign trail for another run at the presidency -- >> the bottom line is her cancer is back. >> is this a hardship for us? yes. it's yet another hurdle. >> reporter: she would encourage her husband to continue his presidential run. which would soon be rocked by political scandal. the crushing admission by her husband of an affair. a child with another woman. in the face of all of that, she remained devoted to her family. elizabeth edwards, gracious and resilient to the very end. according to friends elizabeth edwards did not want her life to be summed up as having lost a battle to cancer, but celebrated for the life she led for 61 years. ron claiborne, abc news, chapel hill, north carolina. >> you know, you heard ron mention her son wade there in the story. it was interesting to hear her say there was something of solace for her in the sense that knowing when she finally does pass she'll finally be reunited