'It is a miracle he is around,' Murray Howe talks about his dad
Murray Howe talks to CBC Radio about Gordie's recovery
Murray Howe said his dad Gordie is better than he has been in months.
Howe spoke with Saskatoon Morning host Leisha Grebinski and said his 86-year-old hockey legend is more physically active and talkative every day. Howe said the entire family is excited to be back in Saskatoon to celebrate Gordie.
"He's so much a servant of the fans and so to be here and for him to stand up to say 'I'm not dead yet' is wonderful. He's been looking forward to this for weeks."
Murray Howe also gave an update on his father's health. Last October, Gordie suffered a stroke. His condition was grave until he underwent stem cell treatments in Mexico in December.
He's eating like a horse now and sleeps like a teenager,- Murray Howe
"He's doing amazing," Howe told Grebinski. "Like any 86-year-old he has his good and bad days, but overall just phenomenal. He can feed himself, hold a conversation and walk about a quarter-mile in a day."
Tonight's celebrity sports dinner has brought out some of the biggest names in the hockey world. Wayne Gretzky, Bobby and Brett Hull and Lanny McDonald are a few of the names paying tribute to Mr. Hockey.
When the stars see Gordie, they will see a man who is looking better everyday, Murray says.
"He's gained 25 pounds and is up to 196. We would love to see him get to his playing weight of 206. He's eating like a horse now and sleeps like a teenager."
Murray Howe is a doctor is Toledo, Ohio. When his family was approached by a stem cell company in San Diego offering to help Gordie, he admits he felt skeptical.
"As a physician I was very privileged to be able to read over the data they provided and determined that it was definitely a safe procedure, and I thought it might actually do something."
Long journey
It was a long journey for Murray and Gordie yesterday. Their plane had mechanical issues leaving Lubbock, Texas and did not arrive in Saskatoon until 9 p.m. CST. However, Murray says his father was in good spirits and didn't mind that there was a fresh blanket of snow on the ground.
"When we were walking from the plane to the limo, my dad was only wearing a light jacket with no gloves, but didn't even flinch. I was amazed by that because I was sure flinching."
Be sure to stay with CBC Saskatchewan throughout the day for coverage of Gordie Howe's return to Saskatoon. We are live streaming this morning's press conference at 10:30 a.m. CST where stars like Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Hull will be speaking.