Sen. Mark Kirk’s (R-IL) physician said it’s “way too soon to try and predict” how much time he may need to take off from legislative business following surgery after his stroke — but it could be weeks or months, not days.
“His prospects for a full mental recovery are good,” the doctor said at a press conference in Illinois. “His prospects for a full physical recovery, particularly on his left side, are not great.”
“Senator Kirk’s job is cerebral. And I believe the functions he requires to do his job will be fine,” he added.
Kirk’s physician said the senator is briskly responsive to commands and recognizes those around him when taken off sedation, but will remain in intensive care “over the next several days.”
“We do not know what caused the stroke,” Kirk’s doctor added. He said the senator initially checked into the hospital on Saturday and “he was beginning to deteriorate neurologically, which forced us to go into surgery Monday morning.” It lasted 3 hours.
