Kirk Speaks, Walks on Video

released a video Tuesday thanking the citizens of Illinois in his own voice for their support during his rehabilitation from a and three resulting surgeries.

Kirk left the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Friday to continue his recovery from the stroke at the home of family members.

“I want to thank everyone especially for the patience they have given me to recover from a big stroke," said Kirk. "(And also) to the people of Illinois for granting me the honor to represent them in the United States Senate. I cannot wait to get back to work to vote to spend less, borrow less and tax less to fix our economy."

Kirk made it clear in the video he plans to return to the United States Senate and is making the physical challenges of the job one of the focuses of his recovery process. He intends to climb the 45 steps to get to the front door of the Senate, according to a release sent by his office.

In the video, Kirk also describes and demonstrates his therapy in a clinical trial focused on improving the gait pattern through an intense regiment of continuous walking on flat surfaces, stairs and a treadmill.