Ottawa Senators David Perron Steps Away from Team for Personal Reasons

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Tom Banks
October 21, 2024 (5:53 PM)

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While hockey means a lot to those involved, there are much more important things in life, and now David Perron has stepped away from the NHL to tend to that.

David Perron has played for some of the best teams in the NHL over his lengthy career, but this off-season the veteran forward opted to be closer to his family in Quebec, signing a deal with the Ottawa Senators. The 36-year old enters this season on the back of some incredibly consistent play throughout his career, despite being let go by the team he has found the most success with in his time in the NHL.

Recently, Perron's partner Vanessa has released a heartbreaking statement that their unborn daughter, Elizabeth has a pulmonary malformation, needing to undergo emergency surgery at birth.

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 l 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 across 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 l 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.

Now Perron has officially stepped away from the Senators for an indefinite leave due to the health concerns regarding his daughter, hopefully with a very positive outcome. We wish Perron, his partner Vanessa, their children and everyone in their lives the very best as they go through what must be a very difficult time in their lives.