Advice For Elin

As Tiger Woods prepares to make his first public statement since his scandal broke, the question on everyone's mind is, will his wife Elin stand by him at the appearance? INSIDE EDITION speaks to one woman who has been in Elin's shoes.

Should Elin Woods stand by her man when he speaks in public for the first time about his humiliating sex scandal?

INSIDE EDITION's Diane McInerney spoke to someone who has been in Elin's shoes. Gayle Haggard is the wife of Ted Haggard, former leader of the National Association of Evangelicals, and stood by him even when a former prostitute said Haggard paid him for sex and drugs.

"What do you think Elin is going through right now?" McInerney asked.

"I'm sure that on many levels Elin is still devastated and she's having to work through the issues in her own heart as to how to view Tiger, how to view her marriage, how to view her family," said Haggard.

She's written a new book, Why I stayed: The Choices I Made In My Darkest Hour.

"What advice do you have for Elin?" asked McInerney.

"I would just want to encourage Elin to weigh out what is truly valuable to her. And to recognize the fact that she has a claim on Tiger that no one else does. This is her husband," said Haggard.

McInerney asked Haggard if she thinks it's possible for Elin to forgive Woods.

"Absolutely it's possible. It's a process. It takes time. I think they need respect as they go through this process because it's painful, " said Haggard.

Some wives stand beside their husbands at these moments of high drama. Kobe Bryant's wife held his hand as he tearfully confessed he had been unfaithful in 2003. Silda Spitzer stood stoically when her husband, former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, admitted his affair with a high-end call girl. Dina McGreevey looked stunned as she stood next to her husband, former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey, when he announced, "I am a gay American."

If Elin decides not to show public support for her husband, she would join the likes of Jenny Sanford, who moved out after her husband, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, announced he was in love with another woman. Also Elizabeth Edwards, who separated from John Edwards after he finally admitted he fathered a baby with his mistress.

"If Elin is a no-show at Tiger's TV appearance, what kind of message is that sending? " McInerney asked Haggard.

"I don't think it sends any message.That is a private decision between the two of them, and only she knows her reasoning for that," said Haggard.

Now everyone is waiting to see what Elin will do, including another wife who's been there.

"I would love to be able to speak to her, if ever she should want that. But that really is her choice," said Haggard.