HIGHLAND PARK (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk said he often visualized climbing the 45 steps of the U.S. Capitol as a source of inspiration during his months of grueling physical therapy after suffering a major stroke last year.

Kirk hopes to accomplish that goal on Thursday when he plans to return to the Senate.

In an interview with the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald (http://bit.ly/Ukrj2X ) the Illinois Republican called the stroke "the hardest thing I've ever overcome and the biggest lesson in life I have ever learned by a country mile."