After stroke, Mark Kirk returns to the Senate

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Sen. Mark Kirk makes emotional return to Capitol Hill

Nearly a year after suffering from a debilitating stroke, Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., made an emotional return to Congress today, returning to mark the start of the 113th Congress with his colleagues on Capitol Hill.

The 52-year-old, who succeeded President Obama as the junior senator from Illinois, suffered a massive stroke last January that left him unable to walk. After surgery, the left side of his body was still largely immobile and he faced a long stretch of physical therapy to relearn how to walk and talk.

This week, Kirk spoke to CBS Chicago affiliate WBBM's Jay Levine about his long road back to the Senate, telling him, "I have a lot more confidence once the walking came back, and the reading ability came back. You get the sense that rehab really works, and in my case it does."

He said his experience will shape his agenda in Washington. "The big moment coming for me was when I get to see Sen. Tim Johnson [D-S.D.] who suffered from stroke," he said in an interview with "CBS This Morning." "I can't wait to bond with him so that hopefully we can be advocates for Americans who have survived stroke."

[srickett]

I was impressed by his strength and tenacity in overcoming the obstacles to get back to work. Would like to have seen some reference to Rep. Tammy Duckworth who is our first disabled veteran to be elected to the House.

[srickett]

I was impressed by his strength and tenacity in overcoming the obstacles to get back to work. Would like to have seen some reference to Rep. Tammy Duckworth who is our first disabled veteran to be elected to the House.

[oneofthenones]

I'm happy for him, If only my mom had the same healthcare after her stroke she would be up and walking and talking too...

[srickett]

Totally agree.