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CTU’s Karen Lewis reveals she had a stroke last week

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Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis is in the hospital recovering from a stroke she suffered last week.

The stroke Thursday was in an area of the brain where she had a tumor removed. Lewis was diagnosed with brain cancer in October 2014.

“Yeah, I had a stroke,” Lewis said Tuesday morning from the hospital.

“I’m going to be OK,” Lewis added. “They’re going to have me in working order soon.”

* Tribune…

“I had a stroke last Thursday,” she said, but didn’t get confirmation from doctors until Sunday.

“It was a teeny, tiny one, where the tumor was,” Lewis said of the stroke.

“What happens is, anytime you have a surgery and radiation, the blood vessels around there become friable. (The stroke) was so tiny they couldn’t find it the first time they examined me.” […]

“It’s going to be a lot of work, it’s going to be a lot of physical therapy, that’s what it’s gonna be,” Lewis said.

* NBC 5…

Speaking from the hospital, Lewis, who in recent years had a tumor removed from her brain, said she suffered a stroke Thursday.

“I woke up, couldn’t move my left leg, my left hand,” she told NBC 5.

Lewis said she had no speech issues following the stroke and plans to use physical therapy to regain movement on her left side.

She remained in the hospital Tuesday but said she expects to be in rehab “very soon.”

* Mayor Emanuel…

“I reached out to Karen this morning to wish her a speedy recovery and, as anyone who knows Karen would assume, she was in a good humor. Karen Lewis has always been a strong voice for Chicago’s children and Chicago’s teachers, and the strength of her voice is only matched by the strength of her will. A stroke can’t keep Karen Lewis down.”

Amen to that. Hang in there, Karen.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 10:46 am

Comments

Even though I don’t care for Karen at all when she’s in “working order”, I do wish her a full and speedy recovery.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 10:50 am
Don’t like most of her policies and positions but admire the woman’s fight and intelligence. Hope she recovers well. Chicago is more interesting with her in the mix.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 10:51 am
Isn’t this a private health matter? Why are reporters calling her at the hospital?

Comment by Anon E. Moose Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 10:56 am
@Anon E. Moose

I assume she told them. HIPAA doesn’t prevent you from disclosing your own diagnoses.

Comment by ChrisB Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 11:00 am
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Comment by Chicago_Downstater Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 11:07 am
Positive statement by Rahm. Some people could learn from it.

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 11:12 am
Takes a lot of guts to keep working through these challenges.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 11:34 am
Why do people feel compelled to preface their well-wishes with things like ‘I don’t like her’, ‘I don’t agree with her’, etc? Pretty much negates the message in my opinion. Can’t we simply wish someone a speedy recovery with no strings attached?

Comment by Cubs in '16 Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 11:41 am
Keep giving them hell Karen!

Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 11:49 am
Wishing you a speedy recovery Karen.

Comment by honeybadger Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 12:02 pm
Suburban teachers on strike are supported by beeping and waving mom’s and dad’s bringing out Donuts. Karen Lewis and Chicago teachers are treated like bad union bums stealing from society. Why is That? Stand tall Karen and get well!

Comment by DeseDemDose Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 12:26 pm
Tough lady…get well soon…

Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 12:29 pm
Karen is one strong lady. Hope she is better soon!

Comment by Century Club Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 12:53 pm
==Why do people feel compelled to preface their well-wishes with things like ‘I don’t like her’, ‘I don’t agree with her’, etc? Pretty much negates the message in my opinion.===

Speaking for myself, I’ve long been someone who has had tremendous issues with Karen Lewis. Her public persona is that of a person I disagree with on everything.
That does not ‘negate’ the fact that I genuinely hope and pray for her recovery. I’m as sincere about that as I am about anything else. Best of luck to her in her healing.

And to all who have described her as “tough”. I wouldn’t hesitate to agree. She certainly is.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 1:25 pm
best of luck to her. that is a cruel blow when she’s had to endure so much.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 2:52 pm
All the best and a speedy recovery for Karen Lewis who has shown she’s a fighter in all the best ways we all are fighters.

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Oct 17, 17 @ 3:37 pm