Gordie Howe is in dire health after what his children feared most: Another stroke.

Mark Howe told the Free Press Sunday evening that "things are not going well for Dad this past week to 10 days. It's not good at all. They've had him pretty heavily medicated the last few days, to help with Dad's back pain and blood pressure. We're trying to get another epidural to see if that will help with his back pain. He had been bed-ridden for three days now.

"He's eaten a couple of times, had his oatmeal, we're getting some liquids in him. But he's so heavily sedated, we're just trying to do the best we can. But he's having a really hard time. It's really hard to watch him, because he's been in a lot of pain. Right now, he's suffering pretty bad."

Gordie Howe, 86, has suffered from dementia for years, and has been in steadily declining health since summer after suffering a series of strokes, including a severe one on Oct. 26.

"Things are not going well for Dad this past week to 10 days," Mark Howe said. "Lots of pain from his back again and had another small stroke."

Mark Howe said increased prescribed medicine for Gordie has made "his dementia go off the charts. Not a good situation at all."

Gordie Howe, a Detroit Red Wings legend who became known as Mr. Hockey, has been staying in Lubbock, Texas, with his daughter, Cathy, and her husband, Bob, as well as a rotation of sons Mark, Murray and Marty. Mark Howe first revealed to the Free Press back in September just how dire the situation had gotten for Gordie after a summer during which back pain became so debilitating the family feared he would not be around much longer. A severe stroke in October further worsened the outlook.

"He's having a pretty hard time of it right now," Mark Howe said. "We're praying we can get him some relief from his pain."

Mark Howe said taking care of Gordie has "been an ongoing process for five years now. We're doing what Dad demonstrated, what he demonstrated with our mother."

Colleen Howe was married to Gordie for 55 years before passing away in 2009, aged 76, from Pick's disease, an incurable neurological disorder that causes dementia.

Having gone through the agony of seeing his mom suffer, Mark said he and his sibling know better what Gordie is going through.

"Until he quits," Mark said, "we're going to do all we can to have my Dad live with some quality of life. But if it gets to where that disappears, that will be a tough decision to make."