U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., underwent surgery Jan. 23 after suffering a stroke, according to the Chicago Tribune.
“On Saturday, Senator Kirk checked himself into Lake Forest Hospital, where doctors discovered a carotid artery dissection in the right side of his neck,” his office said in a statement.
Kirk, 52, had the operation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
In 2010, Kirk narrowly defeated Democrat Alexi Giannoulias to capture President Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat.
Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka released a statement saying, “Like anyone who knows Senator Kirk, I am stunned and saddened to hear about his recent stroke. But if there is one thing I have learned about Mark over the years, it’s that he is a fighter and relentless in his efforts to accomplish a goal. Those attributes will serve him well in working toward a rapid recovery. My thoughts and prayers are with him.”