Sen. Kirk's condition upgraded to 'good'

CHICAGO, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., has been upgraded to good condition as he continues to make progress in his recovery from a stroke, his neurologist said Monday.

Dr. Richard Fessler, neurosurgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, said Kirk's medical team anticipates the Highland Park Republican will soon be able to begin the rehabilitation phase of his treatment.

"Sen. Kirk is making good progress in his recovery. He is visiting with family and even watched the Super Bowl last night," Fessler, a professor of neurological surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a statement. "We are very pleased with his continued improvement."

Kirk, 52, has undergone multiple operations to ease brain swelling since his stroke last month but has been given a good prognosis for full mental recovery, Roll Call said. Doctors, however, say it is likely Kirk will have some degree of permanent physical damage to his left side.