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Valerie Jarrett Had Spinal Surgery Last Week
White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett speaks in Washington, Monday, Aug. 4, 2014, during the Investing in Women, Peace and Prosperity luncheon of the 2014 US Africa Summit. President Barack Obama is gathering nearly 50 African heads of state in Washington for an unprecedented summit aimed in part at building his legacy on a continent where his commitment has been questioned. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Valerie Jarrett Had Spinal Surgery Last Week

White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett is set to return to Washington after undergoing spinal surgery in Chicago last week, a White House official said.

White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett speaks during a luncheon in Washington, Aug. 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

The White House said Jarrett underwent surgery for cervical spine stenosis, a compression of nerves in the spine that can cause pain and other issues. Politico first reported on Jarrett's treatment.

"Last Monday, Valerie Jarrett was treated for cervical spine stenosis and underwent surgery related to this condition in Chicago," a White House official said in an email to TheBlaze. "She is thankful for the great care of her doctors and will return to Washington with the president Monday evening to continue her recovery. Valerie is making progress every day and is already joining meetings by phone. She looks forward to being back at work full time in the near future."

The surgery occurred on Oct. 13. Jarrett will fly back to Washington with Obama aboard Air Force One on Monday.

Jarrett is a longtime close friend of the president and first lady's, going back to Obama’s rise in Chicago politics.

Editor's note: This post has been updated with a comment from the White House.

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