David Perron leaves the Senators for a heartbreaking reason

Earlier today Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green told reporters that veteran forward David Perron has left the team for personal reasons. His date of return has not yet been discussed.

Perron and his wife Vanessa are currently going through a very difficult pregnancy and are currently in Toronto where Vanessa is to undergo a procedure. Vanessa explained the situation in a heartbreaking Instagram post on social media earlier today.

Essentially, their unborn daughter who they have named Elizabeth Perron, is at serious risk during birth.

From Vanessa Perron:

Elizabeth Perron. We decided her name on our way to get a procedure done in Toronto. I needed her to be real before risking to lose her. A couple weeks before at 30 weeks I found out she had a large congenital pulmonary airway malformation. We Shorten our summer and move into a hotel room in order to start a follow up/treatment for our little girl while our new house renovations were on the way. Moving our family accros countries while navigating this diagnosis was not easy.

While in Toronto she got procedure to implant shunts (drain) in her lungs in vitro. We were lucky enough that most of the mass did shrink enough not to put her life in danger while I was still pregnant.

Im finally 37 weeks and that’s a big milestone for our little warrior. She will most likely need to go under for a major open surgery at birth. The risks are big. As a mother it is a nightmare to know you are about to give birth and also know what she will have to endure in order to give her a chance to live. You want to keep her safe inside you, because at least she still there. I’m amazed at this new perspective in life. The sick kid parent. It feels very surreal. And it is probably one of the hardest things I’ve been thru.

I did not share it before because it’s hard to give updates as I was trying to stay positive. We are now facing difficult moments for our family and I would like to ask for prayers. Our little Elizabeth will need it. I have hope. She’s so strong already.

- Vanessa Perron

The strength and the determination in this woman is astonishing.

Thoughts and prayers go out to Vanessa, Elizabeth, David and the entire Perron family.