It turns out that the health scare involving the fiancee of Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin was even more heartbreaking than initially known.
Carolina Matovac has revealed that she was pregnant at the time of her medical emergency — which required a heart transplant — and lost the baby.
In an Instagram post on Monday, Matovac explained that the couple’s unborn child “played a vital role” in discovering her heart failure.
She shared that Monday was her due date and included a photo of herself and Dahlin being transported to a hospital in France at the time of the ordeal during their summer getaway.
“Today was meant to be the day we finally met you,” Matovac wrote. “You will always hold a special place in our hearts as our first baby, even though we never had the chance to meet. Our love for you is endless. Though you didn’t get to experience this world, you played a vital role in ensuring that I could continue to be a part of it.
“If it weren’t for my worries about you, we might never have called for help and gone to the hospital. Because of that decision, I was in the right place at the right time during my first heart failure. This is just one of the many reasons I am alive today, able to embrace a normal life once again.
“You are our hero, and I hope you are being well cared for in heaven. We love you baby Matovac Dahlin.”
Dahlin and Metovac got engaged last year after being together for more than a decade.
What did they say about her heart transplant?
She remained on life support for weeks after undergoing the heart transplant, which Dahlin shared through a letter posted by the Sabres on social media in September.
In the letter, which is addressed to the hockey and Buffalo communities, Dahlin shares the story of what occurred during a trip to France.
“I want to share with you a traumatic experience that my fiancée, Carolina, and our families experienced this offseason,” he wrote. “While on vacation in France early this summer, Carolina began to feel sick for a few days, which quickly turned into her experiencing major heart failure.
“Fortunately, she received CPR on multiple occasions, and up to a couple of hours at a time to keep her alive, which ultimately saved her life. Without her receiving lifesaving CPR, the result would have been unimaginable. It is hard to even think about the worst-case scenario.
“She was transferred to a hospital where she remained on life support for weeks before she was a beneficiary of a heart transplant while still in France.”
Dahlin expressed his and Matovac’s utmost gratitude for everyone involved in helping them through the ordeal, including nurses, doctors and rehab staff at the Hospital Centre of Antibes Juan–Les–Pins, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Marseille, the Sahlgrenska Hospital in Gothenburg and the Hogsbo Rehabilitation Center.
How well is Dahlin playing?
Dahlin is playing in his eighth season with the Sabres, but has yet to reach the playoffs with the team.
That could change this year, however, with the Sabres currently sitting in third place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 29-17-5 heading into Tuesday night’s game against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
So far this season, Dahlin has eight goals and 29 assists for 37 points in 47 games. He has been named to Sweden’s roster for next month’s Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy.