Hockey legend Gordie Howe suffered a severe stroke this past Sunday morning and is now recovering with family in Texas, according to news reports.
The Howe family initially felt that Gordie, 86, was in bad shape and might not recover.
“He had a bad stroke a couple of days ago, and I tried to do some FaceTime with him, and he looked really bad yesterday,” Mark Howe said Tuesday night. “He’s pretty well immobile. It’s not good. We’re keeping our fingers crossed. If anybody can recover, I know Dad can.”
Reports were more optimistic Wednesday, however, as the family released a statement, saying that he is showing some signs of improvement.
“The Howe family would like to thank friends, family and fans for your overwhelming well-wishes, prayers and support for Gordie. He suffered a significant stroke on Sunday morning while at his daughter’s home in Lubbock, Texas. His condition remains guarded although he is showing some signs of improvement. We acknowledge that there is a long road to recovery ahead, but Dad’s spirits are good and his competitive attitude remains strong.”
Howe suffers from dementia, and according to statements from his son Mark, had a difficult summer plagued by mini-strokes. He also underwent outpatient surgery to help with spinal stenosis, which caused him debilitating pain.
Often referred to as “Mr. Hockey,” Howe is considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time. He is the only player to have played in the NHL during five different decades, winning the Stanley Cup four times with the Detroit Red Wings.
