Publications & Sites 
Sen. Mark Kirk returns to Congress after stroke
Article Extras
Updated: January 3, 2013 4:00PM
Using a cane for balance as well as the helpful arm of the vice president, Sen. Mark Kirk walked up the U.S. Capitol steps on Thursday, one year after suffering a stroke.
He carefully climbed, stopping several times to turn and thank colleagues.
“It’s the culmination of a dream that I’ve had since I was in the hospital,” said Kirk in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Illinois delegation — Democrats and Republicans — as well as high-ranking U.S. Senate leaders lined the Capitol steps watching their colleague slowly climb 45 steps.
Vic President Joe Biden’s motorcade arrived minutes before the climb. Biden walked over to Kirk and hugged him.
“I’m happy as can be to be here, man,” Biden told Kirk.
Kirk had to learn how to walk again after suffering a debilitating stroke in January of 2012.
