Sen. Mark Kirk (R)
Mark Kirk's office put out a statement just a little while ago:
“On Saturday, Senator Kirk checked himself into Lake Forest Hospital, where doctors discovered a carotid artery dissection in the right side of his neck. He was transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where further tests revealed that he had suffered an ischemic stroke. Early this morning the senator underwent surgery to relieve swelling around his brain stemming from the stroke. The surgery was successful. Due to his young age, good health and the nature of the stroke, doctors are very confident in the senator’s recovery over the weeks ahead.”
Kirk is 52. He was elected to the Senate in 2010, to fill what had once been President Obama's seat. Prior to that, he'd served five terms in the House in Illinois's 10th Congressional District. Needless to say, we wish him well in his recovery and will update with any further information as we get it.
10:04 AM PT: More on Kirk's condition:
A Northwestern Memorial surgeon said the senator suffered a stroke” to the right side of his brain. What that means is it will affect his ability to move his left arm and possibly his left leg.”
He said the senator’s speech and thinking weren’t affected, adding, “We’re very hopeful... he should be able to do very well.”
The surgery took place Sunday night and involved “removing a part of his skull to relieve swelling.”
2:59 PM PT: Things sound quite serious:
The surgeon who performed the three-hour operation on Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., this morning says that the senator will likely have permanent physical damage due to the stroke he suffered over the weekend.
“It will affect his ability to move his left arm, possibly his left leg and possibly involve some facial paralysis,” Dr. Richard Fessler, a neurosurgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago said today.
Kirk suffered a stroke to the right side of his brain, which affects the left side of his body. The doctor said it is a good thing the stroke did not affect the left side of his brain, which controls the cognitive functions, such as speaking, understanding and thinking.
“He’s got a pretty good chance of continuing a very vibrant life,” Fessler said at a press conference in Chicago today. “Sen. Kirk’s job is cerebral and I believe the function he requires to do his job are going to be fine.”