DETROIT -- Red Wings great Gordie Howe suffered another small stroke Saturday night but his condition remains stable.
"He's had a number of them over the years," said Mark Howe during the first intermission of the Wings-Canucks game Sunday. "Basically, all the vital signs are good. He's been happy, he's comfortable, he's not in pain with his back. He's comfortable. They're doing a good job. You wish things were a little better but I'm happy with the fact he's comfortable. He has his personality. It's going OK."
Mark and his siblings were relieved that their father's severe back pain was alleviated by undergoing an epidural.
"Before that, he had been pretty well in bed for about eight days and unable to move," Howe said. "Now since that time, it's nice, we can get him out of bed, on a nice, warm day my sister and the caregivers get him out, get him for a walk in a wheelchair. On the other days you get him out in the living room and he sits and watches. He's very much aware of what's going on and it's nice when you're there with him because you can still interact with him and all."
Mark said his dad's personality has not changed, despite his limited physical condition.
"Every day we're feeding him chocolate milkshakes and chocolate chip cookies, and being the person that he is, they offer it to him and he offers to give it back first for the women," Howe said.
Gordie Howe was able to walk a bit at first but he's not able to right now.
"After his first stroke, within a week he was up and walking probably 40 or 50 feet," Mark Howe said. "It took him quite a while. And the use of both arms was coming back pretty well. But then after the second stroke, I know they did his first physical therapy about a week ago after his epidural. I was there and he tried standing twice over the course of about 20 minutes and it just took every ounce of energy he had. It totally drained him.
"Right now we're concentrating in re-establishing the connection between the muscles and the brain and hopefully they can get that connection and maybe have a chance."
Mark said his sister Cathy sends him pictures frequently and he plans to return to Texas to visit again soon.
"I got a wonderful picture from Thanksgiving dinner," Mark said. "Marty is going back down there, I believe it's (Monday) and is going to spend a week. Then Murray and I'll probably be going back around the 10th or 11th (of December) and maybe spend five or six days. My sister has both of her daughters and their families coming to the house, so they'll be staying with dad through Christmas time."
Gordie has lived with his children since his wife, Colleen, died five and a half years ago.
Although Gordie can no longer go on the traditional fishing trips with his sons, the entire family is happy to still have him around.
"You take what's available to you and just to have him there ... everybody knows his nature," Mark said. "When you're around him it's good to see that again. It makes it all worthwhile."
