Senator Mark Kirk Suffers Stroke, Undergoes Surgery

United States Senator Mark Kirk suffered a stroke on Saturday and underwent surgery on Monday at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

According to an official statement from the Senator’s office:

“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,” it said. “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.”

According to Dr. Richard Fessler the operation moved forward after experts began to realize that the Senator was beginning to ”deteriorate neurologically.”

Surgeons say the procedure went well and that the stroke affected the Senators left arm and leg and left some facial distortion.

Kirk took over President Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat in Illinois during a close 2010 election against Alexi Giannoulias.

Kirk spent 10 years in the U.S. House before claiming his senate seat.

He does not have any children and lives along in the Highland Park area of Illinois.