In a deeply personal revelation that adds another layer of tragedy to a harrowing health crisis, Carolina Matovac, the fiancée of Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin, has shared that she was pregnant during the medical emergency that ultimately required a life-saving heart transplant. The couple lost their unborn child during the ordeal.
A Heartbreaking Disclosure on Social Media
Matovac made the emotional disclosure in an Instagram post on Monday, which coincided with what would have been her due date. She included a poignant photograph of herself and Dahlin being transported to a hospital in France during their summer vacation last year, the site of the initial crisis.
"Today was meant to be the day we finally met you," Matovac wrote in the post, addressing their lost child. "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."
The Unborn Child's Role in a Life-Saving Discovery
In her message, Matovac credited concerns for her unborn baby as the catalyst for seeking medical help, a decision that proved critical. "If it weren't for my worries about you, we might never have called for help and gone to the hospital," she explained. "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."
She poignantly referred to the child as "our hero" and expressed hope that the baby, whom she named "baby Matovac Dahlin," is being cared for in heaven.
Recapping a Traumatic Medical Journey
The health scare first became public in September 2025, when Dahlin shared a letter via the Buffalo Sabres' social media channels. He detailed how Matovac fell ill during a vacation in France, experiencing major heart failure. She received extensive CPR on multiple occasions to keep her alive before being transferred to a hospital.
Matovac remained on life support for weeks in France before receiving a heart transplant. Dahlin's letter expressed profound gratitude to the medical teams at several facilities, including the Hospital Centre of Antibes Juan–Les–Pins and Hôpitaux Universitaires de Marseille in France, as well as the Sahlgrenska Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, and the Hogsbo Rehabilitation Center.
Life and Hockey Moving Forward
Dahlin and Matovac, who have been together for over a decade, got engaged last year. As they navigate this profound personal loss and recovery, Dahlin continues his professional hockey career.
Now in his eighth season with the Sabres, the defenseman is having a solid year with 37 points in 47 games. The Sabres are currently in playoff contention, sitting third in the Atlantic Division. Dahlin has also been named to Sweden's roster for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy.
The couple's story highlights immense personal resilience in the face of compounded tragedy—the loss of a child and a fight for survival—while in the public eye of the professional sports world.
