Nunnelee speech, movement impaired after brain surgery

Rep. Alan Nunnelee’s (R-Miss.) speech and movement are impaired following surgery Monday to remove a small mass on the right side of his brain. 

Doctors are “encouraged” that both functions will be restored to the two-term congressman following rehabilitation, according to his office. 

Nunelee will be moved to a rehab facility in Houston early next week. He is currently at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where the procedure took place. 

{mosads}”Doctors have been very encouraged with his progress and are further encouraged that with rehabilitation, Nunnelee’s speech and mobility will be restored,” according to his office. 

A spokeswoman for Nunnelee, Elizabeth Parks, told The Associated Press the congressman is having difficulty moving the left side of his body. She could not say if the mass removed from his brain was cancerous because test results were not yet back. 

After the surgery Monday, his family had said the surgery “went well,” according his office. Despite the complications with his speech and movement, the mass appeared to be successfully removed. 

His office previously said it appeared to be isolated. 

According to the AP, his rehabilitation will take place at TIRR Memorial Hermann hospital, the same facility where former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was treated after her gunshot wound to the head in 2011.