CALGARY — Several days after the stirring ovation that welcomed him back to the Saddledome, Lanny McDonald is still grappling with the emotion of it all.
It’s been six weeks since the hockey icon lay dying on the floor of the Calgary airport, saved by two passing nurses and a policeman who worked so furiously to bring his unresponsive body back to life that he broke McDonald’s sternum and many of his ribs.
Although the former Flames captain recalls very little of a five-day window after feeling weak in the knees and slamming his head into the floor as he went into cardiac arrest, McDonald will never forget the outpouring of love and support he’s received ever since.
“The ovation,” said McDonald, voice cracking as his wife, Ardell, sat by his side to refresh his memory, “was unbelievable.
“I don’t even know how to describe it.
“It felt so good. So nice.
“It was … kind of overwhelming.”
Surrounded by Stanley Cup-winning teammates from the 1989 season, McDonald was overcome with emotion Saturday night as 18,000 fans stood for a prolonged salute to a man who has forever done his part to brighten the spirits of those around him with an autograph, a meaty handshake, a photo, a chat, a thumbs-up or a simple smile from the game’s ultimate ambassador.
This was their small way of returning the favour.
“I never really thought of it in those terms,” said the humble Hall of Famer, who was asked how moved he was by that, and so many other gestures of late.
“Oh my God, my kids tease me all the time, ‘You’re a big tough guy.’
“I’m the biggest softy, and I have cried more in the last five, six weeks than you could possibly imagine.
“When I have to rely on Ardell and my kids to remind me I was on a different path until those people at the airport helped roll me over, and the nurses and policeman who helped bring me back … I have a lot of people to thank and be thankful for.”
The heart attack came on Feb. 4, minutes after he and Ardell returned from the All-Star festivities in Toronto where the healthy, always energetic McDonald had a busy weekend as chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Doctors later told him if his episode occurred minutes earlier on the plane, or minutes later in the parking lot, he would have died.
“Talk about lucky,” he said.
“Thank God people came to help.”
Both the McDonalds needed it.
“I couldn’t turn him over, so I yelled for help and somebody came to help, and then these nurses came and they said, ‘He’s not breathing,’” said Ardell of the two nurses who were on their way to catch a flight.
“They started CPR and then called for the defibrillator before the policeman came and took over.
“He was punching through to China, which is how he broke Lanny’s ribs and sternum.”
“I asked if he had to do it that hard. He said, ‘Yes.’
“They brought him back to life. He was dead. He was on his way to heaven.”
Four days later, McDonald had quadruple bypass surgery.
Eight days after that, on his 71st birthday, he had a pacemaker put in.
“Lanny only does things in dramatic fashion,” said Ardell, smiling.
“There were some angels looking out for him.
“I think he’s looking out now to see how he can give back.”
He can do that by just being here, which is what spurred so many to respond with so much love when news of his episode hit.
“Just by being a good person, he has given so much to so many people, but he doesn’t realize it, so I think he was overwhelmed by the response,” articulated Ardell, before turning to her Hall of Fame hubby with a chuckle.
“I’m going to stop … I can see your head swelling.”
McDonald still intends to complete the final year-and-a-half left in his term as Hockey Hall of Fame chairman, but understands he has to take it easy.
“He can’t climb ladders or use a chainsaw — things he likes to do,” said Ardell of her honey from Hanna, Alta.
“He walks until his shoes are worn out, but can’t shovel or sweep, and that’s hard.
“His activity level is going to have to change.
“The old farm boy is going to have to ask for help.”
Given what he’s meant to this city, you can bet everyone is willing.
“I’ve gone through some tough injuries, but recovery from this one — the broken ribs and sternum — is not for the weak,” said the father of four and grandfather of eight.
“Every day is a challenge, trying to get better.
“You better have a good attitude and be strong mentally because it’s tough, but I feel like the luckiest guy to still be able to spend some time and try to teach my grandkids to be good to people.”
Like Grandpa has always done.
He’s always been there for fellow Calgarians, which is why it’s so heartening they were there for him that fateful afternoon, and ever since.
“It took weeks to get back to all the people who sent hundreds and hundreds of texts and emails, and it was a real life lesson to get those messages from people who said, ‘Don’t bother writing back, just wanted you to know we’re thinking of you,’” said McDonald.
“The power of those messages.
“Even the team doing a little video coming off the ice that morning meant so much.
“It’s hard to describe how healthy and powerful that is in your recovery.”
Even harder to describe how much it means for everyone that he gets there.