February is Heart Month, and Ringette Ontario is proud to partner with the Heart and Stroke Foundation to share an inspiring story of courage, community, and big wins.
Young ringette athletes show determination on the ice every day. But one player, in particular, reminds us that heart comes in more ways than one:
Natalie Gillies was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare condition that meant her heart was sending too much blood to her lungs and not enough to her body. Her best chance at survival required a series of three open-heart surgeries, one of which needed to happen almost immediately after birth. Shortly after she was born, Natalie was transferred to SickKids Hospital.
At just two days old, her heart health declined rapidly, and she experienced cardiac arrest. As doctors worked to restart her heart, they realized her best chance of survival would be a heart transplant. For months, Natalie’s parents lived day to day, waiting for the call that would say a heart donor had been found. At five months, that call came! As her mother, Michelle, recalls, “We sent our very blue in colour baby Natalie to surgery, and she came back nearly 12 hours later sporting the colour pink!”
Natalie and her family are grateful to Dr. Lori West and the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Thanks to her life-saving research into pediatric heart transplants, countless children with heart defects now have a chance at life.
Now nine years old, Natalie is thriving, and her love of ringette is a big part of that. Michelle, who grew up playing the sport herself, shares, “Watching Natalie fall in love with the sport also has been a dream come true. And not just watching her love the sport, but the simple fact that she is alive and thriving in order for us to witness her grow in athletics.”
Natalie currently plays for the London Lynx Fun3 (U10) Team Walker. Ringette is a special sport that focuses on teamwork to help young athletes bond and grow together in ways no other sport can. For the Gillies family, ringette connects generations, showcases resilience, and celebrates determination. Michelle stated, “Every time she [Natalie] steps on the ice, she shows what determination looks like, she proves that challenges don't define her - her spirit does.”
This Heart Month, Natalie’s story reminds us that a strong heart, both on and off the ice, can change lives. Through partnerships like Ringette Ontario and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, we can celebrate the courage, resilience, and big wins of young athletes everywhere.
If you have an inspiring story connected to ringette, we’d love to hear from you!
