next vice president, john edwards. [ applause ] >> reporter: to the darkest corners of personal struggle. elizabeth edwards became prominent in her own right. best-selling author, health care advocate, attorney, political spouse. but she stood out most for the way she shared and endured some of life's most wrenching blows. the death of son wade in a car accident at age 16, the diagnosis and recurrence of breast cancer. >> cancer's not a straight line, it's up and down. >> reporter: and the slow, public destruction of her more than 30-year marriage to senator john edwards. >> he changed. maybe we all change over time. and he's no longer the person that i -- who i married. >> reporter: in 2007 they appeared united. her cancer was back, but they would not give up the campaign. >> we're going to always look for the silver lining, it is who we are as people. and we'll ton do it.