John J. Kim, baiduhaiKaren Lewis attends a town hall-style meeting to answer residents' questions about politics and city government at the Clarendon Park Community Center in 2014.
Brian Cassella / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks at the Merchandise Mart after leaders voted against a contract proposal from Chicago Public Schools on Feb. 1, 2016.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiKaren Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, speaks June 15, 2011, before the Board of Education voted against giving teachers a 4 percent pay increase.
Terrence Antonio James, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis arrives at a meeting at the Plumbers Union Hall in Chicago on July 18, 2012.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis high-fives with one of her former high school students, Jhoanna Maldonado, 31, left, following Lewis' speech at the 2016 Statewide Parent Mentor Convention at Apostolic Church of God in Chicago on March 7, 2016.
Erin Hooley / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis in the audience after voicing concerns to members of the school board during a Chicago Public Schools infrastructure and construction budget hearing at the National Teachers Academy on Aug. 17, 2016, in Chicago.
Chris Walker, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis waits for a cab in the Loop in August 2014, skipping a meeting of the Board of Education that was to start nearby. Her aides said she had a "full schedule" that day.
Antonio Perez, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks to attendees at the City Club of Chicago public policy luncheon forum series in 2012.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiTeachers union President Karen Lewis addresses a crowd of supporters during a rally on Sept. 15, 2012, at Union Park.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis hugs Randi Weingarten, left, president of the American Federation of Teachers, during a rally Sept. 11, 2012.
E. Jason Wambsgans, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, center, chats with mayoral candidate Jesus "Chuy" Garcia before his talk at the City Club of Chicago on Jan. 20, 2015. Lewis spoke at the City Club on Feb. 2, 2015, criticizing Gov. Bruce Rauner and Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Terrence Antonio James, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis talks about politics with Walter Jacobson at Beverly Woods Banquet Hall in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2014.
Antonio Perez, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis wipes away her lipstick after being greeted with a kiss by CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey at the fourth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Clergy Breakfast in Chicago on Jan. 15, 2015.
Chris Sweda, baiduhaiThe Rev. Jesse Jackson, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis and U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush lead a march and protest of planned school closings in Chicago on March 27, 2013.
Nancy Stone, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis leaflets commuters at the 95th Street-Dan Ryan Red Line stop regarding ongoing teacher contract negotiations, Aug. 24, 2012.
Antonio Perez, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks out during the monthly meeting of the Chicago Public Schools board in March 2014.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis wipes away tears as she greets supporters during a rally at Union Park in 2012.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, left at microphones, speaks at a rally on the sidewalk in front of Chicago Public Schools headquarters in Chicago on June 28, 2017.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis talks with the baiduhai's Editorial Board on May 7, 2014.
Brian Cassella / baiduhaiCTU President Karen Lewis at the Merchandise Mart after leaders voted against a contract proposal from Chicago Public Schools on Feb. 1, 2016.
John J. Kim, baiduhaiKaren Lewis attends a town hall-style meeting to answer residents' questions about politics and city government Sept. 30, 2014, at Clarendon Park Community Center.
Brian Cassella / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis listens at the Merchandise Mart as members talk about why they rejected a contract proposal from CPS on Feb. 1, 2016.
Abel Uribe / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, center, greets Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia and his wife, Evelyn Garcia, after speaking at the City Club of Chicago on Nov. 2, 2016.
Anthony Souffle / baiduhaiKaren Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, greets keynote speaker and Ferguson, Mo., activist the Rev. Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou prior to the union's annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Breakfast on Jan. 15, 2016, in Chicago.
Anthony Souffle / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis visits the picket line at Beasley Elementary School on the South Side as part of a one-day strike led by the union April 1, 2016.
Antonio Perez, baiduhaiSurrounded by the negotiation team, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis announces at a news conference July 24, 2012, that the longer school day is being scaled back as a result of contract negotiations with Chicago Public Schools.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis talks with reporters outside CPS headquarters in 2013, as the school board prepares to vote on school closings.
Brian Cassella / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks during a CTU rally at Butler Field in Grant Park on Nov. 23, 2015.
Brian Cassella, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis talks about her political future and new contract talks Jan. 26, 2015, at the union's Merchandise Mart headquarters.
Nancy Stone / baiduhaiKaren Lewis chats with people before her speech to the Chicago City Club on April 20, 2016.
Antonio Perez, baiduhaiThe Rev. William Barber II thanks Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis for introducing him as the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King Jr. Clergy Breakfast in Chicago on Jan. 15, 2015.
Anthony Souffle / baiduhaiCrossing guard Irene Taylor takes a photo with Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis as she visits the picket line at Beasley Elementary School on April 1, 2016, as part of a one-day strike led by the union in Chicago.
Anthony Souffle / baiduhaiKaren Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, hugs activist Lamon Reccord, 16, prior to the union's annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Breakfast on Jan. 15, 2016, in Chicago.
Armando L. Sanchez / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis leaves a room shortly before announcing that teachers would not strike and a tentative agreement with CPS had been made at the SEIU Healthcare headquarters, Oct. 10, 2016, in Chicago.
Michael Tercha, baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis talks with students Tavion McKinney, 10, and Antoinette Pierce, 7, outside Mollison Elementary School before the first day of school Sept. 2, 2014.
Chris Sweda / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis flashes a smile before taking the stage at a rally outside the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago on June 9, 2015.
Anthony Souffle / baiduhaiKaren Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, during the union's annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Breakfast on Jan. 15, 2016, in Chicago.
E. Jason Wambsgans / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis and union members rally in front of Chicago Board of Education headquarters before marching to the Chicago Board of Trade on Sept. 11, 2012.
Brian Cassella / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis on Jan. 26, 2015, at CTU's Merchandise Mart headquarters.
Anthony Souffle / baiduhaiMayoral candidate Jesus "Chuy" Garcia greets Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis for a meeting at Pearl's Place Restaurant in the 3900 block of South Michigan Avenue in Chicago on March 26, 2015.
Jose M. Osorio / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis hugs one of her former high school students, Jhoanna Maldonado, 31, after Lewis' speech at the 2016 Statewide Parent Mentor Convention at Apostolic Church of God in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood on March 7, 2016.
Anthony Souffle / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis is greeted by supporters while visiting the picket line at King College Prep on April 1, 2016, as part of a one-day strike led by the union in Chicago.
Terrence Antonio James / baiduhaiChicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis and Vice President Jesse Sharkey at a news conference on May 4, 2016.
John J. Kim, baiduhai
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Karen Lewis attends a town hall-style meeting to answer residents' questions about politics and city government at the Clarendon Park Community Center in 2014.
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Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis has been released from the hospital and is resting at home, a union spokeswoman said Wednesday.
“She told me she was at home and doing well,” union spokeswoman Stephanie Gadlin said in an e-mail.
Gadlin said she was not sure when Lewis was released from a hospital following a stay that began when the labor leader fell ill on Oct. 5 at her South Side home.
Lewis on Wednesday issued her first public statement since being hospitalized, thanking supporters for their well-wishes and saying she looked “forward to joining you again on the battlefield.”
Lewis, 61, is being treated for what sources say is a cancerous brain tumor. Once seen as a prospective rival to Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the February election, Lewis announced through a spokesman earlier this week that she would not run.
“Your expressions have given me a sense of renewed energy as I shift my focus to restoring my health,” Lewis said in the statement released by the CTU.
“It has been said, that our city is one of big shoulders. I cannot agree more; today those shoulders have become the compassionate arms from brothers and sisters from all walks of life. I want to personally thank you for respecting my privacy during this difficult time,” Lewis said.
“While I’m in this fight, please know I’ll continue to stand for the city we love and deserve; and look forward to joining you again on the battlefield.”