U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk is currently recovering at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital after having part of his skull removed to relieve swelling due to  a stroke.

The following is a statement released from Kirk's office today.

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.

Kirk remains in intensive care at the moment and doctors say that his cognitive abilities should remain intact, though he may experience some difficulties with mobility in his left arm and leg as well as possibly some facial paralysis, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Kirk won the former U.S. Senate seat held by President Barack Obama in 2010 after serving five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Many of Kirk's fellow politicians, including U.S. Sen. John McCain, U.S. Reps. Bob Dold, Judy Biggert, and Elijah Cummings, and State Sen. Bill Brady, have voiced their concerns and well wishes for the Illinois senator. Check back with Progress Illinois for more on this developing story.

UPDATE 1 (1/23/12, 12:52 p.m.): Gov. Pat Quinn released the following statement in response to news of Kirk's health crisis: "Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the senator and his family as we wish him a swift and strong recovery. We can all take comfort knowing that as a Navy commander, Sen. Kirk knows how to fight and he will fight through this to return to his work on behalf of the people of Illinois as quickly as possible."

UPDATE 2 (1/23/12, 2:51 p.m.): U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. also released a statement on Kirk's condition: "I send my best wishes and remain prayerful that my friend Mark Kirk will have a swift and complete recovery. Mark is a longtime personal friend of mine and he is a superior public servant. While we sit on opposite sides of the aisle, I respect Mark immensely and I've worked closely with him on many issues for many years. I urge everyone in the State of Illinois to say a prayer for Mark and a speedy recovery."

UPDATE 3 (1/24/12, 2:54 p.m.) Sen. Kirk remains in serious condition today, according to WGN News. Kirk is speaking, although his speech is slurred, and his doctor is reporting that the Senator is moving very little on this left side and has some facial paralysis on on that side as well. Kirk will stay in the intensive care unit for about a week before going to a general unit. The senator is expected to head to therapy after he is eventually released from the hospital. His doctor, Dr. Richard Fessler, says Kirk is doing better than expected and is asking for his Blackberry.