Dahlin: fiancee had heart transplant after heart failure in France

Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin revealed Friday that his fiancée, Carolina Matovac, suffered sudden heart failure while the couple were on vacation in France this summer, required prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation and life support, and ultimately received a heart transplant. Dahlin said Matovac is now undergoing rehabilitation in Sweden and is expected to make a full recovery.

In a letter posted on the Sabres' website, Dahlin described how Matovac felt unwell for several days before her condition rapidly deteriorated into major heart failure. According to the letter, she received CPR on multiple occasions, at times for up to a couple of hours, which Dahlin said was lifesaving. She was transferred to hospitals in southern France, placed on life support for weeks, and later received a donor heart. The couple credited medical teams in France and Sweden for her care.

Dahlin and Matovac thanked numerous medical providers and institutions by name in the message, including hospitals in Juan-les-Pins and Marseille and rehabilitation staff in Gothenburg, Sweden, as well as the Högsbo Rehabilitation Center. They also expressed gratitude to the Sabres organization, league...