Mark Kirk, the junior senator from Illinois, had a stroke over the weekend and is in the hospital recovering after surgery early Monday, his office just announced. The man who took over President Barack Obama's vacated senate seat checked himself into a hospital on Saturday, and doctors eventually discovered he'd suffered an ischemic stroke, which the Internet Stroke Center explains happens when an artery bringing blood to the brain gets blocked. Kirk is 52-years-old, which makes him pretty young for a stroke victim, but also increases the chances he'll recover just fine, doctors say. USA Today shared the statement from Kirk'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. 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.

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Adam Martin