Gordie Howe's family is expressing cautious optimism about the legend's condition.
The family released a statement through the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday that provided a positive but realistic outlook.
Howe family releases statement via the #RedWings on the health of Gordie: pic.twitter.com/UBmcDqAMMw
— Dhiren Mahiban (@dcmahiban) October 29, 2014
Howe suffered a stroke last weekend and the initial prognosis wasn't encouraging.
After the stroke, his son, Murray Howe, described his father as being very weak.
The elder Howe is 86 years old. He underwent spinal surgery over the summer. Murray, who heads the department of radiology at Toledo Hospital, said his father recovered from that procedure before suffering the stroke.