SportsHockey

Canucks legend Gino Odjick releases statement as he battles rare disease again

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
|
Oct 18 2020, 4:42 pm
Canucks legend Gino Odjick releases statement as he battles rare disease again

Gino Odjick is once again fighting a rare disease, the same one that nearly took his life six years ago.

The Vancouver Canucks fan favourite released a statement, following an outpouring of support from fans online, which will remind some of the incredible scenes outside Vancouver General Hospital in 2014.

Fortunately, Odjick’s outlook doesn’t appear to be as bleak as it appeared in late June, 2014, when doctors gave him months, if not weeks, to live.

“I am very much alive and well,” Odjick said in a statement released through the Vancouver Canucks Alumni Association, before confirming that he is once again fighting the rare disease Amyloidosis, that attacked his organs, including his heart.

The former enforcer thanked fans for their support, but said there has been a lot of “confusion and misunderstanding” regarding his health on social media.

While Odjick has been in an Ottawa hospital for treatment, he does so once a week. After a month’s worth of treatment, unlike last time, doctors are optimistic about his progress.

“Fortunately, in the eyes of the doctors, we caught the prognosis and symptoms at the early stages of the disease,” said Odjick. “This gave the doctors optimism with the right amount of treatment; we should push this ugly disease back into remission.”

Gino says he will continue with treatments in the “coming months,” and said he would update everyone when the time is appropriate.

“I personally would like to thank everyone for their positive thoughts and well wishes. Those positive thoughts and well wishes really helped me six years ago, and it will do the same at this time.”

Here’s the full statement:

gino odjick statement

Vancouver Canucks Alumni/Twitter

Here’s a sampling of the amazing support from fans this weekend:

Rob WilliamsRob Williams
+ Offside
+ Hockey
ADVERTISEMENT

SUBSCRIBE TO THE HIVE

Get the latest news sent to your inbox and stay in the loop