Arts, Not Cancer, on Maggie Daley's Mind

After School Matters appearance first since cancer setback

Maggie Daley only wanted to talk about her pet project, After School Matters, Thursday at Gallery 37.

Despite last week's news that her metastatic cancer has forced her into a wheelchair, Chicago's first lady was focused on the student's arts program she started 19 years ago.

"I'm also proud of all the teens in the entire program who bring their talent, their passion and their joy," Daley told the crowd of program -- and personal -- supporters.

Daley was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2002. She underwent surgery to remove a tumor in the summer of 2006.

Last week, news that it had spread to her right leg and would temporarily confine her a wheelchair drew questions of her husband, Mayor Richard Daley.

"Maggie has been a fighter," an emotional mayor at the time. "Her commitment is to be able to defeat this."

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