Kirk said doing well after stroke surgery CHICAGO, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- The neurosurgeon who operated on Sen. Mark Kirk R-Ill., to relieve pressure on his swelling brain said Kirk is "doing quite well." "He is alert, responding more rapidly to questions and the swelling in his brain has stabilized," said Dr. Richard Fessler of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Kirk, who suffered a stroke Saturday, had surgery Sunday and again Thursday when Fessler and his team removed two pieces of tissue destroyed by the stroke, the Chicago Tribune reported. "Fortunately, the stroke was not on the left side of the brain, in which case it would affect his ability to speak, understand and think," Fessler said Tuesday. We are very hopeful that when we get through all the recovery, all those functions will be intact.