Chicago’s First Lady Maggie Daley has already beaten the odds for a woman living with metastasized breast cancer.
Doctors typically give patients whose breast cancer spreads throughout their body approximately two to three years to live. Daley’s cancer spread in July 2002.
Her tenacity was recognized Monday night when Northwestern University Hospital unveiled a cancer center dedicated to the fighting first lady.
Noticeably more slender yet as radiant as ever, Maggie Daley said the dedication means more to her than anyone will ever know.
Over the course of her care, she's spent days in the facility that now bears her name. In fact, she was there hours before the dedication.
"I think most of you today heard that I had a little hiccup with a fracture to my bone," she said in her remarks to the roughly 80 friends, family members and philanthropic supporters on-hand for the ceremony.
Her doctor, Steve Rosen said doctors discovered a non-displaced fracture in the first lady’s leg over the weekend. The fracture was reset.
Daley's been prone to fractures since undergoing radiation therapy. Earlier this year doctors put a titanium rod in her leg to fight against debilitating breaks.
Rosen said the fact the the most current fracture was non-displaced is evidence that the rod is doing its job.
The Maggie Daley Center for Women’s Cancer Care will be a one-stop shop of sorts for women dealing with cancer.
Women can get acupuncture or Reiki, visit a nutritionist, see a health psychologist or even choose a wig or prosthesis all while receiving chemotherapy.
The Daley Clan packed the room for Monday evening's dedication. Mayor Richard Daley wiped tears from his eyes while his wife eloquently told the store of what the facility will mean for women in the fight of their lives.
"My wish is that this will be a place of nourishment for all women," she said.
