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Lawmaker returns to Congress after debilitating stroke

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    Doctor calls Sen. Mark Kirk's progress 'remarkable'

  • Duration 4:03
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Well it's an especially big day for Illinois senator Mark Kirk back at work today after he suffered a debilitating stroke last year doctors performing.

Not one but three brain surgeries in the senator had to re learn.

How to walk today vice president Joseph Biden greeting senator -- on the steps of the capitol take -- -- Welcome back.

You can see the senator walking with a -- doctors say he'll use a wheelchair for the longer trips around the capital.

Senator -- it took us Kirk took office back in 2000 intend winning president Obama's former senate seat.

He said that at first he had not expected to ever return to the hill in fact after the stroke.

Senator -- told a local newspaper he -- -- -- three angels in his hospital room asking him.

To -- now with us now doctor Mitchell Brooks former family practitioner and host of the radio program health of -- nation doctor.

Thank you for being with us this -- been a long and arduous journey for the senator he was.

I think it's fair to -- the precipice of death and this remarkable inspiring moment.

Of personal achievement and great courage talk to us about what its book.

The work of a lot of very dedicated people.

Nurses nurses say it's nurse practitioners.

Doctors.

Mostly -- particularly desire actress physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors the unsung heroes of rehabilitation.

And of course senator Kirk and more to the point.

This family because everyone forgets about the family and truly it's the family that really really really bears the brunt of this.

And not knowing what's going to happen and stroke or neurological disease and disorder.

It is a scary thing because it's not something that has a quick fix you can't get a brain transplant like you get a hard trance.

Has his recovery -- code or will he continued to gain.

-- you know I don't have all the information at my disposal so I'll give you the doctor answer the doctor answer is without the information it's hard to tell.

But that said.

People continued to -- function and continued to improve.

To various and different points so we'll just have to wait and say.

Of course what most people would be concerned with -- are his stamina and his cognitive abilities.

Now because he had a right -- stroke.

The cognitive side may not be affected as such initially.

But it's hard to say at this point in time because reports that I've read -- indicate that there may be some cognitive issues but none that might.

Affect him in the senate I was under the impression that the right so the brain -- trolls space shall functions emotions.

And importantly it controls judgment is that true.

Yes and yes and this facial motions that is to say.

Where are your feet are with respect to your body so his ability to walk up the steps of the capitol.

Is really remarkable and you know his initiating event was one of the arteries in his neck the main artery.

And the right side of his neck.

Was dissected in half over time and so that had to be fixed initially and then.

They had to remove a piece of skull to take the pressure off the -- in terms of affecting his judgment one wonders of of course.

And we wish in the very best about mental acuity in a pretty tough job.

Well it's a very tough job and there are a lot of important decisions to make -- I mean I can only wish him well I know what he's going through and it's difficult and really and as -- say more to the point his family.

All right doctor Mitchell Brooks thank you so much for the inside and obviously having here senator we wish the senator the very best.

In his continuing recovery what courage.

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