Sen. Kirk makes it up 37 flights
Lawmaker suffered stroke in January
CHICAGO – Gripping a handrail and wearing a brace on his left leg, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., climbed 37 floors inside Chicago’s Willis Tower on Sunday in his first public appearance since suffering a major stroke.
Kirk, taking part in a popular charity fundraiser called “SkyRise Chicago,” started walking from the 66th floor and climbed up to the finish line at the 103rd floor.
He was met with hugs and cheers from family and friends at the end. The senator paced slowly through the crowd with the help of a cane, smiling but saying little to the media.
Kirk’s stroke in January severely limited movement on the left side of his body.
“We’ve seen some amazing progress over the last few months,” said Michael Klonowski, a physical therapist with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, where Kirk is receiving treatment. “As an inpatient, he needed significant help. Now here he is going up the stairs without my help.
“That’s remarkable progress.”
Kirk prepared for the event by scaling stairs and incrementally increasing the height he climbed.
The 53-year-old, who continues to undergo rehabilitation, has been releasing videos on his progress, including footage of him working with therapists and climbing stairs.
Kirk’s office declined to comment on his participation in the event or when he might return to Washington. But Joanne Smith, the Rehabilitation Institute’s CEO, said his ability to finish “demonstrates that Sen. Kirk is back and perhaps better than ever.”