Red Wings' Johan Franzen has had 'really bad' few months, wife says

Helene St. James | Detroit Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Red Wings' Johan Franzen not worried about head injuries Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen discusses getting physical after a long layoff from the NHL. Video by Helene St. James / DFP

Johan Franzen is going through an emotional time as he deals with post-concussion symptoms from his days with the Detroit Red Wings.

Cissi Franzen, Johan's wife and mother to their two boys, shared the struggles on her blog and Instagram on Sunday, revealing the toll his head injuries continue to have on the family.

Franzen, 38, has not played in the NHL since Oct. 10, 2015, when he aborted a comeback two games into the season after complaining of feeling unwell. Franzen missed the last part of the 2014-15 season after a blindside shoulder hit by Edmonton's Rob Klinkhammer on Jan. 6 left Franzen with another concussion. Franzen has said he has had at least four head injuries during his career.

On her blog, Franzenresidence.com, Cissi Franzen wrote: "I don’t know where to start, but this week has been really hard and extremely emotional. Monday morning the kids, Lisa and I flew out to Denver, Colorado, to visit Johan. He’s been going thru an intensive treatment program at Marcus Brain Health Institute, and this last week was a family week where I joined in for a lot of sessions. He’s still dealing with post concussion syndrome, and the last months have been really bad. Something needed to happen and I’m so thankful we found this new amazing place. It opened up in March and they treat (veterans) and athletes with brain traumas. Johan was actually their very first athlete.

"First day when we came was a great day, so nice to see each other again. Second day – terrible and we got into a huge fight. Probably normal in most relationships, but when you have an brain injury it adds up, and it becomes SO not rational. The brain just can’t (pause) and take a break when it’s overloaded and can’t recover. He bounced back to a very dark and sad place. However, I’m glad it happened while we were there. The amazing top of the line team (Marcus Institute for Brain Health), handled the situation so professionally, they rescheduled his and my schedule completely the day after to treat him as best as they could. You could feel how they all genuinely cared for Johan, and also me.

"He was teamed with three vetarans, and they have all become very close to each other, sharing their stories and situations. For me it was also great to get together with the other wives ... sharing our stories along with LOTS of tears. I have not been crying this much in a very long time. So as I said, it’s been very hard, but also GREAT! They have a really good approach where they target all different aspects of PTSD, everything from auditory processing, balance, vision and tools to deal with dark thoughts of depression and ways to learn how to calm down with meditation and mindfulness, and to be proactive to give themselves a longer fuse.

"We are for the first time very hopeful for the future and Johan feels much better from when he started the treatment. It’s not gonna be easy, but now he has a plan on how to go forward and can also start to work out slowly again, we have learned how to handle different situations better, and the doctors and therapists are still there for us and will continue to follow up. I’m super proud of my husband for getting his lately lazy butt out there!!

"Living with a husband with a brain injury is not easy, it’s like a rollercoaster. But I am doing my best to get us to a better place, not only for us and but also for our amazing boys that deserve the best!!"

Franzen helped the Wings win the Stanley Cup in 2008, recording 13 goals in 16 playoff games. In 2008-09, he scored a career-high 34 goals and added 12 goals and 11 assists in 23 playoff games. He signed an 11-year, $43.5 million contract extension in April 2009. The contract, which runs through 2019-20, remains intact, and the Wings gain salary-cap relief in-season by having Franzen on long-term injured reserve.

Franzen traveled with his teammates to Tampa for a playoff series in April 2015. At that time, he spoke of how hard it was to explain what he was going through to sons Eddie-Bo (born 2011) and Oliver (2013).

"To see the disappointment in their eyes when (they ask), 'Dad, why can't you play with us?' It breaks your heart," Franzen said. "For two months, not being able to pick up your kids, or play with your kids, for more than 2 minutes — it makes you think a little bit. I was in a really dark place, maybe not the first month because then you still think it's going to get better, but then when it doesn't get better, you kind of start wondering."

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.