Gordie Howe has a long way to go to recover from a stroke he suffered over the weekend, his son said Wednesday, Oct. 29, amid an outpouring of support from the hockey community.
“Mr. Hockey” has shown some signs of improvement from what son Mark called a “pretty significant stroke” and is resting at his daughter Cathy’s home in Lubbock, Texas.
“It’s a difficult time for Dad,” Mark Howe said in a phone interview from Lubbock. “It definitely impacted his life, so we’re dealing with this, I think, as all families do and just trying to be there. The best thing we can do is just be here and be supportive and try to keep him in good spirits.”
Sons Mark, Marty, and Murray travelled from their respective homes in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Ohio on Tuesday to be with their father, who has been in declining health for the past year. Gordie Howe is 86 and also suffers from a form of dementia.
Concerns for Howe and hopes for his recovery have poured in from across the hockey world and beyond since news of his stroke emerged Tuesday afternoon.
Mark Howe, who has been a scout for the Detroit Red Wings for the past 20 years, estimated he had 375 text messages, a volume surpassed only by the time he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
“Obviously Dad, he’s touched so many people in his life in such a positive way,” he said. “That’s reflected in so many of the well-wishes and prayers that we’ve received.”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper posted a message of encouragement on Twitter, and coaches Mike Babcock and Dallas Eakins talked about Howe’s health Wednesday.
“If there’s anybody that can recover from that, it’s that tough old bird,” Eakins, who coaches the Oilers, told reporters in Edmonton. “He’s a tough man and quite a treasure to our game. Our thoughts and prayers are with him.”
Howe played 26 NHL seasons and set league marks with 801 goals and 1,850 points—mostly with the Red Wings—that held up until Wayne Gretzky surpassed him in the record books.
