Stem cells most likely saved Gordie Howe's life. The 86-year-old hockey legend that left him barely responsive. MORE: | | It wasn't until Dr. Maynard Howe (no relation to Gordie) of Stemedica Cell Technologies in San Diego contacted the Howe family in early December that things turned around. in Mexico as part of a clinicaltrial, Dakota Joshua Jersey his condition began to improve as early as eight hours afterward, according to his sonMurray. Now the Hall of Famer is staying with his daughter in Texas. He has gained 20 pounds, is walking up to half a mile, is conversingand is lightly playing sports with his family. "I kicked around a soccer ball with him," . "He's playing driveway hockey with his grandsons. He's faking out his great-grandson and then shooting the puck through the five hole. You really couldn't even tell he had a stroke at this point." We were just completely blown away by his response (to the treatments), Murray Howe added.Im still astonished." Josh Bloom Jersey