Ron Duguay, a former star for the Rangers, was found unconscious at his home last Friday and subsequently hospitalized, as shared by his daughter, Shay Thomas.
Doctors reported that Duguay was “extremely dehydrated” and discovered issues including varicose veins, portal hypertensive gastropathy, internal bleeding, and ulcers. This information came from a post on Instagram by his daughter.
The 69-year-old had received a stage 4 cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
“Our father @ronduguay10 keeps showing us his strength,” Thomas mentioned in a Monday post on Instagram. “He passed out at home on Friday, lost consciousness, and injured his face, losing a few teeth in the process. This time it wasn’t due to hockey. An ambulance took him to the hospital.”
“His liver cancer, along with the stress from surgery, chemotherapy, and a pump, has caused pressure to build in the liver. This pressure can lead to complications in the stomach and result in bleeding. Further assessment is needed for the ulcer, but bleeding and liver pressure are the major concerns right now.”
Duguay seems to be maintaining a positive outlook following the unfortunate incident.
On Monday night, he shared a humorous split photo on his Instagram Story, showing himself dining on the floor at home with a few missing teeth.
“I found a tooth on my bedroom floor,” he joked in the post.
Thomas included a video of Duguay being loaded into the ambulance and later transported through the hospital on a stretcher.
Despite the circumstances, he remained conscious and alert during treatment and while being moved.
The ordeal took a toll on his daughter, who mentioned feeling unwell to the point of struggling to eat until she fainted.
“He’s still in the hospital receiving blood transfusions as doctors keep a close watch on him,” Thomas wrote.
“Through everything, he stays strong, optimistic, and has faith in God. We will keep everyone posted. Please keep him in your thoughts.”
This incident occurred about five months after Duguay had previously mentioned his stage 4 cancer, which originated from his colon. He had lost both his appendix and gallbladder during treatment.
His family has initiated a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised $160,000 to assist with medical expenses.
Duguay, who was picked as the 13th choice in the 1977 NHL Draft, played eight of his twelve NHL seasons with the Rangers, contributing to the team’s journey to the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals.
Over his career, he achieved 274 goals and 346 assists in 864 games, making his only All-Star appearance with the Rangers in 1982.
Later on, he worked with MSG Networks until his dismissal in 2018.
