nonprofit dedicated to inspiring young students. it is an ongoing process. if i had lost my leg instead of my child, they would not say to me, are you over that leg thing? reporter: in 2004 she campaigned for her husband in his bid for president my rock, my love, and your next vice president, john edwards. reporter: later, vice president to john kerry. on the day kerry conceded defeat, elizabeth was diagnosed with breast cancer and battled it into submission. four years later, with her husband running again, her cancer returned. we re going to always look for the silver lining. it who is we are as people. and we ll continue to do it. reporter: still, she continued to campaign. she endured the candidate s public admission of an extra-marital affair with a campaign worker with whom he had fathered a child. two years ago i made a very serious mistake. reporter: it was a topic she explored in her book resilience.