 Dr. Richard Fessler, who performed surgery on Kirk at Northwestern
Memorial Hospital in Chicago, said the 52-year-old "is doing very
well.""Everything is where we want it to be," Fessler said.
Kirk’s stroke over the weekend affected his left side,
particularly movement of his left arm. Surgeons removed a piece of
his skull Sunday to alleviate pressure from swelling, and Kirk
remained in intensive care. Doctors have said he may not ever fully
regain movement, but he was expected to make a full mental recovery.
Fessler said Tuesday that Kirk, who is right-handed, was able to
move his left side "very little." Kirk was speaking with a slight
slur and has some facial paralysis, which doctors hope will be
addressed with rehabilitation.
Doctors were able to remove a breathing tube and allow the
senator to breathe on his own, and Kirk appeared very aware of his
surroundings and what had happened to him, Fessler said.
"He asked for his BlackBerry yesterday, so he’s ready to go back
to work," Fessler said. However, doctors did not give it to him, he
added.
Fessler said Kirk will remain in intensive care for four to five
days while swelling subsides. After that, they’ll set a date to put
back the 4-by-8-inch piece of Kirk’s skull that was removed.
The senator likely will then need weeks and maybe months of
inpatient physical rehabilitation. Doctors said it was too early to
tell how long rehab would take.
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Tests showed Kirk had a tear in the carotid artery on the right
side of his neck, but Fessler said Tuesday the cause of the stroke
is unknown and may never be clear. He said diet and stress did not
appear to be behind Kirk’s stroke.
"His lifestyle is the lifestyle of a normal, healthy person who
works out and eats a reasonable diet," Fessler said.
Kirk, who won Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat for the
Republican Party in 2010, is a Naval Reserve commander who has to
pass physicals each year.
[Associated Press;
By SOPHIA TAREEN]
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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