Report: It's a fun filled 87th birthday for Gordie Howe!

One of the most iconic figures in the history of our great sport is celebrating his birthday today in style. Gordie Howe turns 87 years old today and he has some big plans for his special day. According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, Howe will be treated to barbecue and cake and then took him fishing. For his family, it's a birthday that his children never dreamed they'd celebrate before their gravely ill father underwent stem-cell therapy in Mexico in early December after suffering a stroke. His recovery is what his family describes as "truly miraculous." "Overall, he's doing very, very well," said Murray, a Toledo, Ohio, physician. "Some back issues creep up on him from time to time, but other than that, he's very healthy. He continues to show slow, gradual improvement. "He's really happy when he has fishing pole in his hand," Murray said. "Before that first day fishing, we went to the store for tackle, rods and all that stuff. We armed ourselves very well, and we had so much fun." "It was on a private lake about an hour from my sister Cathy's place in Lubbock, our own private Idaho," son Murray Howe said in a telephone interview Monday. "It was really wonderful seeing my dad reel in a couple of 10-pound catfish."  "He's up to about 200 pounds, so he's gained about 30 pounds or so. He's pretty close to his playing weight, I think." "We're treating every day we get with him as a bonus," Gordie's son, Mark Howe, said. "Just because his condition around December 1 was so dire that we didn't imagine he'd be around. You cherish every day with him, and when he has good days, you cherish that more." He was honored by fellow NHL legends Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Hull at a celebrity dinner in Saskatoon last month, in what was billed as his final public appearance. Mr. Hockey was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972. He is a four-time Stanley Cup champion, a 23-time All-Star and a six-time winner of the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player. His 1,850 career points rank third all-time. From fans everywhere Happy Birthday Mr. Howe and to many more!