Gordie Howe’s health ‘headed in wrong direction’ according to son

The health of “Mr. Hockey” Gordie Howe has deteriorated in recent days, according to Ken Campbell of The Hockey News.

Campbell spoke with Howe’s son, Mark, who said “things are definitely headed in the wrong direction” for the hockey legend after he suffered a stroke several weeks ago.

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Howe, 86, was thought to be making a significant recovery from a severe stroke on Oct. 29 while at his daughter’s home in Lubbock, Texas. But in an email to family, the younger Howe wrote that Gordie’s condition has worsened and it may be time to consider Hospice care.

Mark Howe told Campbell that there are other health concerns that have complicated the recovery, including significant back pain and high blood pressure. Gordie Howe is in the advanced stages of dementia.

“It’s not the rosy picture we had two weeks ago, without a doubt,” Mark Howe said.

Via The Hockey News:

The family is still holding out hope that if Gordie Howe can get the epidural and reduce the back pain that a recovery still might be possible. Mark said that even though his father is so heavily sedated that he’s immobilized and can’t communicate, he still has some fight left in him. The family has taken turns spending time with Gordie and Mark said he’ll be there for the next week.

Howe, one of the greatest players in hockey history, won six Hart Trophies and six scoring titles in an NHL record 1,767 games played.

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