Wings great Gordie Howe resting after 'serious stroke'

[Guest Playmaker]

Sorry, but he's been suffering immensely in recent years. He is not going to get better. Dementia doesn't get better and he isn't likely to make a miraculous physical recovery due to his age and other health issues. He deserves to go with the dignity he lived his life.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Sorry, but he's been suffering immensely in recent years. He is not going to get better. Dementia doesn't get better and he isn't likely to make a miraculous physical recovery due to his age and other health issues. He deserves to go with the dignity he lived his life.

Sorry but this is just sad and cruel don't you think his sons, daughters would love seeing him around a few more years ? I cringe everytime thinking about how hard that must be for family members, I could never stomach witnessing the maybe last days in someones life thats just .. ..horrible

his son is a doctor he should do everything he can to extend his life

[Echolalia 2,961]

Sorry but this is just sad and cruel don't you think his sons, daughters would love seeing him around a few more years ? I cringe everytime thinking about how hard that must be for family members, I could never stomach witnessing the maybe last days in someones life thats just .. ..horrible

his son is a doctor he should do everything he can to extend his life

There's only so much medicine can do. In the case of a stroke, the brain tissue that is affected is literally dead already. Even for a younger person with access to the best medical care, teaching the surviving portion of the brain to literally relearn all those lost motor skills is a long and tough process. Add that to the fact that Howe also has been battling dementia for the past few years, and he's already quite old, and the odds aren't looking too great. I wish the guy the best, as well as his family, but unfortunately sometimes the best means a comfortable passing, surrounded by your loved ones. Obviously I hope that isn't the case and he rebounds from this.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Just saw a notice on Facebook stating his family is expecting the worst.

[Guest Playmaker]

If his mind and his body are gone and he is suffering, no, I don't think his family would want him to continue existing. Thankfully, the Howe children seem to be treating their dad's life with the respect that it deserves. I have the utmost respect for his family for the way they have cared for him in the twilight of his life. They have been honest and open about his condition. Caring for a dementia patient is physically, emotionally and financially draining. It's a shame they've had to go through this with both of their parents.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

[number9 3,297]

I don't know how many of you follow MMA outside of Frank, but repeated head trauma like Gordie sustained leads no where good. I hope to all hell Gordie is an exception to the norm. He deserves to sign my copy of his newest biography and live out many more years with his grand kids. Many Hugs to the Howe family!

[roboturner 562]

I swear I'm not always as negative as I might come off around this place.

But I'm a realist, and I'm with Playmaker on this one.

I mean he is 86! I think anybody would be lucky live that long even without the wear and tear of a (extremely long) hockey career.

It's not like he's 50 and it's a huge shock to his family and they weren't ready for the end. They've know this was coming for a while and and they've all gotten to spend time with him.

I personally think it's extremely selfish to force someone to live in anguish for months on end just because the people around you are can't accept it and are desperately trying to delay the inevitable. Not to mention it puts the everybody in the position of 'waiting around for you to die' and that's some tough s*** to go to bed and wake up with every morning for possibly months on end.

I'm sure most of his family is there now. I know it sucks, but nobody can live forever. Just make sure he's comfortable and if it's time, it's time.

Edited October 30, 2014 by roboturner

[e_prime 1,936]

Nothing but prayers and thoughts to the Gordie and the entire Howe family. Whatever the outcome.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Nice moment with the fans saluting him last night.

[WingsallTheway 383]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/watch-mr-hockey-reacts-to-red-wings-tribute/

[kliq 3,755]

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/11824416/family-says-hall-famer-gordie-howe-recovering-remarkable-rate

Apparently Gordie is recovering at a remarkable rate! I didnt see this coming, but its nice to see!!!!!!

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Gordies son says that his health is heading in the wrong direction.

http://m.torontosun.com/2014/11/16/gordie-howes-condition-is-heading-in-wrong-directione-son?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Guest Playmaker]

Brittany Maynard had the right idea. Just seems crazy we let our pets die with dignity and without pain but not other human beings.

[roboturner 562]

Brittany Maynard had the right idea. Just seems crazy we let our pets die with dignity and without pain but not other human beings.

I know, hey? We call putting down a dog the 'humane' thing to do (humane coming from human). And yet you can't do it for an actual human because it's somehow not 'humane'.

Everybody is going to die someday, there is no getting around it. If you ask most people how they would like to go, I'd bet most people would say "Peacefully in my sleep at home with my loved ones around."

Probably not "Slowly deteriorating for months on end and then finally with a seizure or stroke on the floor while my family panics and suffers."

I'm gonna leave out the negative religious aspect of this here but if on the off chance anybody wants to discuss that in relation to this PM me.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Godspeed, Gordie.

[barabbas16 499]

I know, hey? We call putting down a dog the 'humane' thing to do (humane coming from human). And yet you can't do it for an actual human because it's somehow not 'humane'.

Everybody is going to die someday, there is no getting around it. If you ask most people how they would like to go, I'd bet most people would say "Peacefully in my sleep at home with my loved ones around."

Probably not "Slowly deteriorating for months on end and then finally with a seizure or stroke on the floor while my family panics and suffers."

I'm gonna leave out the negative religious aspect of this here but if on the off chance anybody wants to discuss that in relation to this PM me.

That's fine if you think of your family as the equivalent of dogs, but not everyone sees theirs that way.

Not your decision or your place to judge.

[Mckinley25 677]

That's fine if you think of your family as the equivalent of dogs, but not everyone sees theirs that way.

Not your decision or your place to judge.

To be fair I don't believe that's remotely close to what he was saying, but it's difficult no matter what and I don't know that there's a right answer. We've been dealing with a similar situation the past few years with my grandma who had Alzheimer's and dementia. She passed a few weeks ago and while sad, it was quite a relief. I hoped that she wasn't aware enough to be in pain, but with the limited communication it's impossible to know.

She used to say all the time that if she ever got that way to kill her, but it's not that easy and in interim between the condition's onset and natural death everyone suffers, we are fragile beings and that can be hard to accept. I hope Gordie is not suffering, that's the best you can ask for.

[T.Low 1,011]

Not the place for this debate.

Edited November 17, 2014 by T.Low

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Agreed, let's keep this on topic here or else this thread could potentially be locked.

[kliq 3,755]

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/11824416/family-says-hall-famer-gordie-howe-recovering-remarkable-rate

Apparently Gordie is recovering at a remarkable rate! I didnt see this coming, but its nice to see!!!!!!

I had a feeling this article of him getting better at a remarkable rate was too good to be true

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

[jimmyemeryhunter 2,747]

Apparently he had another mini stroke.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

I hope he elbowed it.

Edited November 30, 2014 by Hockeytown0001

[number9 3,297]

I hope he elbowed it.

Gordie is from the day when there was no enforcers. you either stood up for yourself or you didn't. Glad to say Gordie was one of the best at doing just that.