#25
Patrick Donnelly was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy, in 2011 when he was 22 years old. Through medications, he regained enough heart function to continue working, but in 2019 Patrick again fell back into heart failure, and this time his heart was damaged beyond repair and would require a transplant. After months of barely hanging on in the Cardiac ICU at UCHealth, Colorado, doctors eventually approved the implant of a Left Ventricle Assist Device (LVAD) in order to help buy enough time to regain the strength needed should a new heart become available. After four years waiting on the transplant list, Patrick decided he was going to skate again as hockey was his life growing up. With the support of Dawg Nation and the inspiration of new friends like Nigel Richardson and Van Stone, even the toughest times could be confused with the best of times. In April 2023, the best of times arrived in full splendor and Patrick received a new heart!