Walter Gretzky scores as Heart and Stroke Foundation spokesperson
by Michelle Minnoch

Last Wednesday, RVH welcomed Walter Gretzky, the national spokesman for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Gretzky suffered a stroke in 1991 and spoke about what he faced during months of rehabilitation and what he is still struggling with today.

"I know first hand how important this work is," he said. "I know, because on October 13, 1991, I started to have terrible headaches and had trouble speaking."

On that day, he made it upstairs to the kitchen of his Bradford home, and his daughter's room-mate took him right to the hospital.

After a six and a half hour operation, doctors discovered he had various blood vessels broken along the side of his head.

With two to three headaches per week over the years, it was determined he had had numerous mini-strokes and wasn't even aware.

"I've now had one headache since 1991," Gretzky said, smiling.

After surgery, he had no memory, could not walk and surprisingly, could not speak English. He woke up speaking in his mother tongue, Ukraine.

It took 10 months for Gretzky's rehabilitation.

"During that time, someone would wake me up, shower, shave and dress me," he said. "I didn't even know my family."

He said everyday continues to be a rehab day.

He said he does remember Wayne's wedding day, and also remembers the night Wayne broke Gordie Howe's record.

His son had called him up and asked him to come to the game in Edmonton, and Walter said he remembers sitting beside Howe during the game.

He said he also remembers the 1987 Canada Cup, especially "all those guys jumping on each other after they won."

A great story teller, adding humor to the situation, Gretzky said he has improved his golf game over the years because "I can't remember what I shot the day before."

As the spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Gretzky travels across Canada, speaking at various engagements about the signs of the disease. He travels with a companion, who takes him to and from events.

During the session, Gretzky said he couldn't remember where he was the day before, and he was reminded he was in Bradford. He will go to the mall to get bread and milk and unless he writes it down, he said he sometimes can't remember why he went there in the first place.

When asked about his diet, he said he never learned how to cook, and didn't bother to try after the passing of his wife.

"I can eat whatever, McDonald's, anything."