From the Free Press's Nicholas J. Cotsonika:

A year ago Monday, Gordie suffered a major stroke. He rallied for a couple weeks and then declined, unable to walk, speak or use his right arm and leg. He was hospitalized Dec. 1 for dehydration and discharged two days later with a recommendation for hospice care.

Whatever it was — stem-cell treatments, the strength that allowed him to play in the NHL at 52 — Gordie rallied again. He went home to Saskatoon for a dinner in his honor Feb. 6, when Wayne Gretzky said: "He is, he was, he will always be the greatest." He celebrated his 87th birthday March 31.

He still suffers from dementia and spinal stenosis. Instead of living with his children on a rotating basis — Cathy, Mark, Marty and Murray — he has settled with Murray and Murray's wife, Colleen, in Sylvania, Ohio. This way, he's close to Detroit and most of his family and friends.

"This is the final period," Murray said. "We've just come to the conclusion that this is home for him."

But Gordie still has his personality and still moves on his own. He still can fire the puck in the backyard or the basement, at least with a spotter.

Continued, and the Free Press has done a wonderful job of collecting readers' "Gordie Howe stories." They're asking fans to share #GordieStories on Twitter as well.