{"id":48955,"date":"2026-01-30T11:55:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T16:55:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=48955"},"modified":"2026-01-30T11:55:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T16:55:18","slug":"nhl-stars-fiance-shares-death-of-baby-following-near-death-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2026\/01\/nhl-stars-fiance-shares-death-of-baby-following-near-death-experience.html","title":{"rendered":"NHL Star\u2019s Fianc\u00e9 Shares Death of Baby Following Near-Death Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
@carolinamatovac \/ Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Carolina Matovac, fianc\u00e9 to Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin, shared a heartbreaking post on Instagram<\/a> describing the death of their baby. \u201cToday was meant to be the day we finally met you,\u201d wrote Matovac. \u201cYou 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\u2019t get to experience this world, you played a vital role in ensuring that I could continue to be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Six months prior, Matovac began to feel ill while she and Dahlin were in France on vacation. Unbeknownst to the couple at the time, she was in the beginning stages of heart failure. At the time of the event, Dahlin revealed<\/a> Matovac had to be resuscitated through CPR. \u201cFortunately, 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,\u201d wrote Dahlin. Matovac\u2019s condition was so severe that she remained on life support until she was able to receive a heart transplant. Dahlin took a leave of absence from the team to support Matovac during her recovery.<\/p>\n

Matovac was pregnant at the time, and she credited her baby for saving her life. \u201cIf it weren\u2019t for my worries about you, we might never have called for help and gone to the hospital,\u201d wrote Matovac. \u201cBecause 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.\u201d She concluded with gratitude for her baby. \u201cYou are our hero, and I hope you are being well cared for in heaven. We love you baby Matovac Dahlin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matovac and Dahlin are both natives of Sweden and have been together for years. The couple got engaged in 2025. Support poured out on social media for the couple\u2019s loss. \u201cCarolina, your strength and vulnerability is incredible,\u201d wrote one user. \u201cSending so much love to you, Rasmus & your little one.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Carolina Matovac, fianc\u00e9 to Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin, shared a heartbreaking post on Instagram describing the death of their baby. \u201cToday was meant to be the day we finally met you,\u201d wrote Matovac. \u201cYou will always hold a special place in our hearts as our first baby, even though we never had the chance…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":48958,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-48955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-television"],"yoast_head":"\nNHL Star\u2019s Fianc\u00e9 Shares Death of Baby Following Near-Death Experience<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fianc\u00e9e of Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin shares the loss of their baby after heart failure and transplant, calling their child a hero.\" \/>\n<meta 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