Jewel Samad / AFP
Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk, second left, waves as he is welcomed by Vice President Biden, left, and his colleagues upon his return to the Senate on Jan. 3 after suffering a stroke last January.
By Tracy Connor, NBC News
In the year since he had a major stroke, Sen. Mark Kirk has taken his recovery one step at a time.
On Thursday, the Illinois Republican took 45 more climbing the stairs to the Senates front door while colleagues cheered him on.
Yeah, Mark! the crowd shouted as Kirk, 53, mounted the steps, slowly and stiffly, with Vice President Biden grasping his right arm.
Welcome back!
Kirk stopped several times along the way, leaning on a four-pronged cane for support. When he finally reached the top, he was greeted by loud applause.
A year ago, Kirk would have bounded up the steps in moments.
That was before the stroke that devastated the left side of his body and left him so close to death he saw angels with New York accents at his hospital bed.
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After stroke, senator takes 45 big steps