It’s been nine months since billionaire businessman Dan Gilbert suffered a stroke. The Quicken Loans and Rock Ventures co-founder has kept very private since then, focusing on his recovery. But now, he’s ready to start speaking publicly again.

“You’re trapped in your own body” after a stroke. - Dan Gilbert

Crain’s Detroit Business Senior Editor Chad Livengood got the chance to sit down with Gilbert for his first interview since his stroke last year.

Click on the player above to hear excerpts from Gilbert’s conversation with Crain’s Detroit Business.

“If you have a stroke, when you’re done, here’s the problem with it: Everything is hard. Everything,” Gilbert tells Livengood. ”Like you wake up, getting out of bed is hard, going to the bathroom is hard, sitting down eating at a table is hard. You name it. You don’t get a break. You’re like trapped in your own body.”

Guest

Chad Livengood is Senior Editor at Crain’s Detroit Business and host of the “Crain’s Conversations” podcast.

“This is a very humbled man, who has kind of come back down to Earth here,” says Livengood. “This is what these kinds of experiences will do to you when you can’t move or you can’t just do your basic functions of life every day.”

Excerpts

On the night he suffered the stroke

“I happen to be with the ER doctor from Beaumont. Him and his wife were at our place along with a few other people. And my wife was there. I told them, I’m not going anywhere, but they insisted I go to Beaumont. So they basically saved my life — this guy and my wife — because if I didn’t go, it would have been a problem.”

On having the financial resources in navigating healthcare

“I have the fortunate situation of having resources. I start thinking about, imagine people who just don’t have any of these resources? What do they do? I mean, insurance does not usually cover most of the rehab from a stroke. Maybe some of it, but not most of it.”

On healthcare professionals helping him through recovery

“The hardest working people in the world are these nurses and nurse assistants. I have no idea what they get paid, but I’m certain they’re underpaid — because you can’t pay them enough. They’re just incredible people. I mean, none of us would do for 20 minutes what they do nine hours a day every day of the week.”