Throughout the year, our blog will feature AHA volunteer stories of survival and hope. We know there are thousands of stories like these - thats why we want to say “Thanks” to all of you for giving your time and sharing your lives with us. You can’t spell CURE without U! Thank you for all you do to build healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. YOU’RE THE CURE!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

May is American Stroke Month

It’s time to get enlightened about stroke.  Every 40 seconds, someone in America has a stroke.  It’s the fourth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability.  Make stroke awareness a priority in your life and enlighten those around you. 


Please take a moment to learn or re-learn the warning signs of a stroke.  It is equally important to know and understand your risk factors for stroke so you can take steps to reduce your risk of having one.


We also wanted to share an update that Senator Mark Kirk released on this recovery from stroke:


Today, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk released a video outlining the progress of his recovery after suffering from an ischemic stroke in January and expressed his deep gratitude to the people of Illinois for allowing him the time he needs to recover.
"I want to thank everyone especially for the patience they have given me to recover from a big stroke," said Kirk. "[And also] to 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."  In the video, Kirk also gives thanks to the doctors and nurses at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) for helping him to regain his walking abilities. He is working to be able to climb the 45 steps it will take to get to the front door of the Senate. 
Click here to view the full video. 
Senator Kirk was first taken into care and underwent three surgeries at Northwestern Memorial hospital. Kirk later moved to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) on February 10, where he began in-patient therapy. On May 3, Senator Kirk was released from the RIC and moved home with his family. 
Kirk has begun a unique, rigorous out-patient walking program for post-stroke patients at RIC. The trial is focused on improving gait pattern through an intense regimen of continuous walking on flat surfaces, stairs and a treadmill. Kirk has walked more than 10 miles altogether since he arrived at RIC in February. 

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