Carolina Matovac, the fiancée of Buffalo Sabres star Rasmus Dahlin, revealed the couple lost their unborn baby after she was put on life support last year.
“Today was meant to be the day we finally met you,” Matovac, 25, shared via Instagram on Monday, January 26. “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.”
Matovac experienced heart failure during a vacation with Dahlin, 25, to France last summer, the NHL player revealed in a September 2025 social media post. She was placed on life support for weeks and received a heart transplant while hospitalized in France.
“If it weren’t for my worries about you, we might never have called for help and gone to the hospital,” Matovac explained in her post. “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.”
She concluded, “You are our hero, and I hope you are being well cared for in heaven. We love you baby Matovac Dahlin 👼🏻🤍🕊️.”
Dahlin recalled the dramatic details of Matovac’s health scare in his initial post last year, writing, “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.”
“While Carolina is still working through her rehab to return to be with me in Buffalo, she has demonstrated an incredible determination, spirit, positivity and resilience that I am in awe of,” Dahlin said. “This has undoubtedly been the most challenging chapter of our lives, however it is something we have learned so much from.”
Dahlin and Matovac, both natives of Sweden, got engaged in 2025 and have been dating for more than six years.
Together, they cofounded the Rasmus Dahlin Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children with various needs around the Buffalo community.
Matovac reflected on her challenging journey in a November 2025 social media post.
“This year, I have so much to be grateful for,” she shared via Instagram. “I will never take my strong and healthy body for granted again; I am truly amazed at what it can accomplish. I am endlessly thankful for my donor, healthcare professionals, and all the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly every day to save lives. Your efforts are invaluable, and I appreciate each and every one of you for your hard work and compassion.”
She continued, “I am also deeply grateful for my family and friends, as the most important things in life are the people who surround us. It’s essential to never take life for granted. One day you could be on vacation, and the next you might wake up with a new organ transplanted. Life is unpredictable and full of surprises, so enjoy every moment of it. 😇Thank you life ❤️.”
