Gordie Howe "is on the upswing," son Mark Howe told the Detroit Free Press on Friday.

Gordie Howe, 86, has dementia and has had a series of strokes. He had a serious stroke in October, and it was thought he was having another one Dec. 1. It was later revealed he was dehydrated.

He is recuperating in Lubbock, Texas, at the home of his daughter Cathy.

"Marty and Murray have been down there about two weeks," Mark Howe said of his brothers, according to the newspaper. "We're starting to finally get positive news after one month of negative news, so it's good."

Howe's professional career spanned five decades, most notably with the Detroit Red Wings. He played 25 seasons with them, making his debut Oct. 16, 1946, and led them to four Stanley Cup championships.

Howe played 1,767 regular-season NHL games, scoring 801 goals and adding 1,049 assists for 1,850 points. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.