Former NHL star Ron Duguay was rushed to the hospital after he fainted at home, lost consciousness and suffered facial injuries during a frightening fall, his daughter revealed.
Duguay, 69, was found unconscious on Friday, July 24, and transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital.
His daughter, Shay Thomas, shared details of the medical emergency in an Instagram post on Sunday, July 26, along with video showing her father being placed inside an ambulance.
“He fainted at home, was unconscious, injured a few parts of his face, and knocked out a few teeth in the fall… this time, it wasn’t from hockey,” she wrote.
Doctors later determined that Duguay was severely dehydrated and had been struggling to eat because he had been feeling so sick, according to Shay.
Medical testing also revealed several serious complications, including varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, internal bleeding and an ulcer.
Duguay announced earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer.
Shay explained that the cancer in her father’s liver, combined with the effects of surgery, chemotherapy and a treatment pump, had caused pressure to build inside the organ.
“Because of the cancer in his liver, along with everything his liver has endured from surgery, chemotherapy, and the pump, pressure has built up inside the liver,” she wrote. “That pressure can back up into the stomach and cause bleeding.”
She said the ulcer still required further evaluation, but the internal bleeding and pressure in his liver were the most urgent concerns.
Duguay remained hospitalized and was receiving blood transfusions while doctors continued monitoring him closely.
Despite the latest setback, Shay said her father was maintaining a positive outlook.
“Through it all, our dad remains strong, positive, and trusting God every step of the way,” she wrote. “We will continue to keep everyone updated. Please keep him covered in prayer.”
Shay later posted another update to her Instagram Stories, thanking fans, friends and supporters who had reached out to the family.
“I’m trying to respond to everyone, and if I don’t get back to you today, I will over the next few days,” she wrote. “Our entire family appreciates you more than you know.”
Earlier this year, Shay defended the family’s decision to create a GoFundMe following Duguay’s cancer diagnosis.
She said some people wrongly assumed her father still had millions of dollars from his playing career.
“I see so many things where people are like, ‘He has millions of dollars from back in the day.’ I’m like, ‘What are we talking about?’” she said in a February interview.
Duguay played 12 seasons in the NHL from 1977 to 1989, most notably with the New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings.
Shay said her father’s credit-card debt had been increasing as he faced mounting medical expenses.
“His credit card debt was going up and that’s when I told him, ‘Dad, just let me do this. I’m not going to put your name on there. Just let me do this. So many people have asked to help you. You need the help. You’ve helped people. Let them help,’” she recalled.
The family ultimately agreed that fundraising was necessary to help him continue treatment.
“We spoke as a family and we said, ‘We need to make this GoFundMe. We gotta do everything we can. Because if we don’t, it’s going to kill you,’” Shay said.