MONTREAL – Chelsea Gagnon, 26, suffers from cystic fibrosis and was recently admitted to hospital with pneumonia – a common reaction to the change in temperatures at this time of year.
She said she wanted to meet P.K. Subban as she recovers, and just hours after Global News covered the story, the Habs superstar tweeted that he would pay her a visit when he’s at the MUHC Sunday.
Subban lived up to that promise, dropping by the Montreal Chest Institute before his scheduled appearance at the Children’s Hospital.
“I was starstruck, he was so nice,” said Gagnon of her meeting with the Habs superstar.
“He literally took my breath away,” she wrote on Facebook.
Gagnon was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was born.
The hereditary disorder causes the production of abnormally thick mucus that can often result in respiratory infection.
“After six years of struggling to stay healthy and out of the hospital, while juggling good grades, I realized that working full time would not be a viable option for me,” said the McGill graduate.
“I always end up sick – this means with IV antibiotics either at home or in hospital.”
When she found out that Montreal Canadiens‘ P.K. Subban would be at the Montreal Children’s Hospital Sunday signing jerseys to raise money, she was ecstatic.
“Watching him play makes me really truly fall in love with hockey again and again,” she told Global News.
But, since she’s “tied” to her bed, there was no way for her to walk over from the Montreal Chest Institute to catch a glimpse of the star defenceman.
“Since I’m still in here and have been a die hard fan since I heard his name, I was really hoping he could take a few minutes of his day to come say ‘hi,'” she had written on her Facebook page, Chelsea Fights Cystic Fibrosis.
“I still get on the ice every week, and try to watch every game, like any true Habs fan,” she said.
Gagnon takes part in therapy and takes medication daily to avoid getting sick, but she still ends up in hospital from time to time.
She said not an hour goes by when she’s not thinking about her illness, but that hasn’t stopped her from developing a love of playing – and watching – hockey.
“Being physically active is actually great treatment for people with cystic fibrosis as it helps us to cough and move the mucus in our lungs that harbour infection,” she explained, adding that she’s played hockey since she was nine years old.
“My favourite player growing up was Saku Koivu, because he had been through medical hurdles and still stayed active in the league,” she said.
“Hockey is a place that I still feel so free from everything in life. Gliding across the ice, I feel like nothing else matters.”
Gagnon said she will eventually need a double lung transplant to survive.
“Until then, we do as much as we can to slow down the process of my lungs getting worse,” she told Global News.
Before leaving, Subban gave Gagnon a signed winter classic jersey, making a good day that much better.
“Thank you P.K. for taking the time out of your busy schedule to come make one of my dreams come true,” exclaimed a very grateful Gagnon.
rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
Follow @rachel_lau
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