Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk hospitalized after suffering stroke

[brooklynite]

Last edited Mon Jan 23, 2012, 02:51 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/la-pn-illinois-senator-mark-kirk-hospitalized-20120123,0,4068794.story:

Sen. Mark Kirk was hospitalized after suffering a stroke over the weekend and underwent surgery Monday in Chicago, his office said.

According to a statement, Kirk, 52, checked himself in to Lake Forest Hospital in the Chicago area on Saturday, where doctors discovered a carotid artery dissection in the right side of the neck.

After being transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, further tests showed the senator had suffered an ischemic stroke.

On Monday, Kirk underwent "successful" surgery to relieve swelling around his brain that resulted from the stroke, the statement continues.

Another Senate seat we didn't expect to be in play?

[Ruby the Liberal]

1. Do you have a link for this?

[riverwalker]

2. serious

this update sounds devastating. I wish him well.

http://beaconnews.suntimes.com/10185178-417/sen-mark-kirk-has-surgery-after-a-stroke.html

[frazzled]

3. He is my senator (though I disagree with him on everything)

Despite the fact that I do not support him, I'm sorry to hear of this and wish him a speedy and full recovery. A stroke at 52 is no laughing matter.

He is lucky he didn't totally stroke-out driving to Lake Forest Hospital and have a car wreck on top of everything.

[yellowcanine]

15. Yeah driving himself to the hospital was probably not the greatest idea.

I had a professor who had a brain aneurysm burst while was in his office getting ready for a class. He actually drove himself home - about 15 miles. He just thought he had a bad headache. Luckily his wife was at home and had better judgment - she called 911. He had a mostly full recovery though he was off work nearly a year. His one impairment was that after that he could never back a car up in a straight line.

[yellowcanine]

13. Actually it sounds as if his chances for a full recovery are pretty good.

There may be some initial paralysis but he should recover nearly full motor function within a few months. He is a relatively young man, this was the result of a carotid artery dissection - a serious problem but treatable and it seems they were able to prevent more serious brain damage by relieving pressure on the brain.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

28. He has a four inch by eight inch hole in his head.

Not exactly seem you recover from in a week or two.

[KatyMan]

38. Totally depends

on the severity of the stroke, the location of the damage. Many people suffer TIAs (transischemic attacks) and have no or very little residual effects. And they can recover quite quickly.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

41. That is not the case here. To the contrary, they speak of many months of work.

[tblue]

21. Strokes are so freaking scary.

I wouldn't wish one on anybody. Hope he recovers and then retires.

[Rosie1223]

4. He was not up for re-election this November

So there would be a special election if he could not continue serving.

I didn't vote for him, but wish him well on his recovery.

[Ian David]

6. I guess Spock takes his seat for now? n/t

[itsrobert]

9. Spock shouldn't have tried that Vulcan Mind Meld

Ordinary humans cannot handle it.

[KamaAina]

5. Welcome to the disability community, Sen. Kirk

Remember, there is an exception to the Conservative Credo ("Thou shalt not give a rip about any social issues&quot for issues that directly affect you personally. Cf. Bob Dole twisting Poppy Bush's arm to get him to sdign the ADA.

[GoCubsGo]

7. I hope he recovers.

I don't like the guy, but I don't wish him any ill. I hope his treatment has the same outcome as Joe Biden's surgeries for a brain aneurysm.

[riverwalker]

8. trying to get updates

and read a FOX news report that is really playing this like it's nothing: "Harry Reid had a similar stroke in 2005".
NO he didn't. Reid had a "Transient Ischemic Attack" a TIA, and was not even hospitalized.
Kirk had an Ischemic stroke, the carotid artery to his brain was completely blocked and dissected. Recovery means you survive, not that you pick up your life as before.

[KatyMan]

39. Not true.

Many people recover completely from carotid endartectomies. And you have two carotid arteries- one on each side. Often the unaffected side supplies oxygen to the brain.

[Wait Wut]

10. Can't stand the little prick.

But, 52 is too young. The husband just lost his old bass player to a massive stroke. He was very close to the same age.

I wish the Senator a speedy and complete recovery. Once you're back to work, Senator, I'll go back to hating your guts and doing everything in my power to get you out of that seat. But, not this way.

[truebrit71]

19. Agreed 100%. I think his politics suck, but I wish him a speedy recovery.

52 is way too young for a stroke...

[libinnyandia]

20. I hope next time the Green Party doesn't affect the results.

[riderinthestorm]

11. He's my senator too and though I hate what he stands for, I wish him a speedy recovery.

Damn but 52 years old is too young....

[karynnj]

12. Adding anything about the Senate seat being in play is not good

There is no reason to do anything but wish him well - and hope we win the seat back in 2016.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. It is in poor taste, and we can't stoop to their level and engage in the same disgusting

rhetoric as they did when Tim Johnson, Robert Byrd, or Ted Kennedy (even after he died) were incapacitated. Besides, IL now has a Republican governor, Pat Quinn. He will appoint some other Repuke to serve out Kirk's term should he be unable to.

[madrchsod]

17. quinn is a democrat in name only but he`ll appoint a democrat if kirk can`t serve

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

18. Oops, sorry. Don't know why I thought he was a Republican. I confuse him with Ornato of PA.

[alcibiades_mystery]

32. The governor of Pennsylvania is Tom Corbett, who is, indeed, a Republican

Dan Ornato was the Democratic nominee for governor, but he lost to Corbett.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

35. Got it! Thanks so much. :)

[karynnj]

33. Pat Quinn is a Democrat - but I agree that it is in complete bad taste.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

34. Thanks. I corrected myself below already. :)

[madrchsod]

16. looks like he`ll be ok after rehab

although i loath what he stands for, as a person a similar problem(my cad is in my heart) i do wish him a full recovery and a return to his senate seat.

[MADem]

22. I know someone who had a brain stem stroke.

Flat on his back, could barely speak. He got aggressive, early therapy--intense for several weeks, less intense thereafter. He went from a wheelchair to a walker inside of two months.

He's back up and about with a cane, and most if not all of his faculties. He will likely have permanent damage on one side, will never run a marathon, but all the "important shit" works.

It depends on the stroke. The brain is very plastic, too--some people heal very well.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

36. Isn't this ailment similar to what Tim Johnson suffered? Brain hemorrage?

[MADem]

37. I don't know. I will say that the brain is much more plastic than the docs used to think.

Much can be done, particularly with early intervention.

[DesertRat]

23. Very scary to happen at only 52 years old

I wish him well.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120123/BLOGS02/120129952/sen-kirk-suffers-stroke

[gratuitous]

24. Glad he promptly went to the hospital

It's easy to dismiss some symptoms and totally overlook a significant health event like that. Sad, though, that so many of Sen. Kirk's constituents have to perform a self-evaluation of their finances before heading off to the emergency room, and determine if their financial condition is sound enough to submit themselves for treatment of a medical condition. If only there was some way that could be changed, and everyone felt as confident going to the hospital as Sen. Kirk did.

[rep the dems]

25. As important as I consider one's political views

I'm not gonna wish a stroke on somebody for that reason. I wish the best for Senator Kirk and hope he has a successful recovery.

[Firebrand Gary]

26. Glad that he is going to be ok.

Just because I hope he does not get reelected does not mean that I wish him ill. Glad that he is ok and hope that he makes a full and healthy recovery.

[AnnieBW]

29. I have a friend who had a stroke this time last year

It takes quite a while for someone to recover. Tim Johnson's still not back 100%, right?

Even though he is a Republican, I wish him well. I wouldn't wish a stroke on my worst enemy.

[uberblonde]

30. How very fortunate for him...

That he got top-notch care, thanks to the comprehensive socialist healthcare coverage we supply to members of Congress.

Perhaps he'll now change his mind about his promise to vote to "repeal" Obamacare, so that the rest of us get the same fighting chance?

[Skittles]

31. he is republican

he won't change his mind

edited to add - I wish the best for him, because I am a Democrat and empathize with him and his family

[Arkana]

40. Not funny, seriously.

I hope he's all right. Strokes are nasty.

Seriously, we don't need to turn into Freeperville every time a Republican falls ill.