Sen. Mark Kirk inviting physical therapist as State of the Union guest

Mike Klonowski at podium with Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago team in the Capitol on Jan. 3, 2013 discussing Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) stroke recovery treatment. (photo by Lynn Sweet)

WASHINGTON–Recovering stroke victim Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) is inviting Mike Klonowski, a Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago physical therapist who treated him, to be his guest at the Tuesday State of Union Address.

The RIC on Facebook said, “Therapists Rock! That’s the message our very own former patient, Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) wants everyone to hear — so to shine a much-deserved spotlight on these very talented and committed caregivers, Senator Kirk has invited RIC’s Mike Klonowski — a mainstay on our 9th floor AbilityLab(TM) — to be a special guest at Tuesday’s State of the Union address.

“We couldn’t be prouder of Mike and our entire RIC team of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists. Leveraging RIC’s world-class science and care, we thank you for your work to Advance Human Ability,” the entry said.

Klonowski was part of the RIC team who helped Kirk, who returned to the Senate on Jan. 3 almost a year after suffering a stroke.