San Diego

Roman Catholic Bishop Leo T. Maher’s condition was upgraded to good Thursday after undergoing brain surgery the day before, a spokeswoman for Scripps Clinic said.

Maher was alert and cracking jokes with the nurses, Sue Pondrom said. He is expected to be walking today, she said, which will give doctors their first indication of whether difficulties he had in moving his left arm and leg were helped by the surgery.

Maher had about 80% of a brain tumor removed April 25. He underwent brain surgery again Wednesday after it became apparent that the residual tumor had swollen, and was worsening his movement problems and cutting off circulation of spinal fluid out of the brain.