{"id":30603,"date":"2025-10-20T15:14:35","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T20:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2025\/10\/20\/nick-foligno-returns-to-blackhawks-feeling-thankful-for-support-and-love-as-his-daughters-recovery-begins\/"},"modified":"2025-10-20T15:14:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T20:14:36","slug":"nick-foligno-returns-to-blackhawks-feeling-thankful-for-support-and-love-as-his-daughters-recovery-begins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2025\/10\/20\/nick-foligno-returns-to-blackhawks-feeling-thankful-for-support-and-love-as-his-daughters-recovery-begins\/","title":{"rendered":"Nick Foligno returns to Blackhawks feeling thankful for ‘support and love’ as his daughter’s recovery begins"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction to Nick Foligno’s Return<\/h2>\n

Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno\u2019s 12-year-old daughter, Milana, is home and recovering from the emergency heart surgery she underwent last Thursday in Boston. In a month laden with positive news and trends for the Hawks, that announcement by Foligno on Monday marked the best news yet.<\/p>\n

The Emotional Return of Nick Foligno<\/h2>\n

The 37-year-old captain returned at Hawks practice himself \u2014 after missing three games during his leave of absence \u2014 and the emotion was unmistakable in his voice afterward as he talked about the experience. \u201cIt\u2019s been obviously very stressful, but we found a lot of comfort in the support of the hockey community, fans, old teammates and my second family here [with the Hawks],\u201d Foligno said. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing how, when you go through a hard time, everyone bands together to send you a ton of support and love and prayers, and it was felt by our family. We appreciate it so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Milana Foligno’s Health Journey<\/h2>\n

Milana Foligno was born in 2013 with congenital heart defects. She underwent an experimental yet successful surgery as an infant to replace her mitral valve, then underwent another valve-replacement surgery in 2018. She had been in stable health in recent years, but as Hawks general manager Kyle Davidson \u2014 who also has a congenital heart defect \u2014 knows well, critical issues can appear out of nowhere at any time.<\/p>\n

Gratitude and Awareness<\/h2>\n

Foligno thanked the surgeons and nurses at both Boston Children\u2019s Hospital and Lurie Children\u2019s Hospital in Chicago for their care this week, as they helped avoid an outcome that \u201ccould\u2019ve been probably a lot worse.\u201d He and his wife, Janelle, run a foundation called The Heart\u2019s Playbook that raises awareness and funds research for children with heart defects. They\u2019ve had a longstanding relationship with BCH, making donations and funding fellowships. \u201cThis isn\u2019t unique to us,\u201d Foligno said. \u201cIf anything, it\u2019s given us a higher calling. Because if you go back there, it\u2019s a constant reminder of the fight that so many families have. We\u2019re going to continue to do our part in making sure we bring awareness to congenital heart defects, knowing that Milana is one of many stories that are still out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Support from the Team<\/h2>\n

Milana and her two brothers, Landon and Hudson, have made frequent appearances at Hawks practices during the last few years. And a group of young Hawks players \u2014 including Frank Nazar, Colton Dach, Wyatt Kaiser and Landon Slaggert \u2014 got to know them even better when they visited Foligno at his family home in Sudbury, Ontario, for a week this past summer. The Hawks dedicated their game last Wednesday to Milana, then went out and whipped the Blues 8-3 with her motivation behind them. \u201cI\u2019m very proud of the group,\u201d Foligno said. \u201cEspecially [considering] the way they went into St. Louis and played, and the way they\u2019ve handled themselves. You\u2019ve seen so much growth.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Road to Recovery<\/h2>\n

Foligno called his return to practice \u201cthe beginning of the healing process.\u201d \u201cI\u2019m excited for Milana to get back to school eventually, and I get to go back to work and be around the guys,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s the beautiful part of the game sometimes: it helps you distract yourself from what\u2019s going on at home. But I\u2019m so proud of how she\u2019s recovering, and I know she\u2019s an inspiration to me and a lot of people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roster Crunch<\/h3>\n

The Hawks have only one game \u2014 Thursday at the Lightning \u2014 scheduled during the next six days, allowing them to get some rest as a team. Jason Dickinson, Tyler Bertuzzi and Andre Burakovsky didn\u2019t practice Monday, but all seem likely to play Thursday. With Foligno and Landon Slaggert back as well, that would give the Hawks 14 available forwards \u2014 despite needing only 11 to complete coach Jeff Blashill\u2019s preferred seven-defenseman lineup format. Blashill said he isn\u2019t sure what the solution to that logjam will be. Sending Ryan Greene down to Rockford, placing Sam Lafferty on waivers and\/or finally trading Lukas Reichel are the most realistic options.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The return of Nick Foligno to the Blackhawks after his daughter’s successful heart surgery marks a significant moment for the team and the Foligno family. The outpouring of support from the hockey community, fans, and teammates has been a source of comfort and strength during a challenging time. As Milana continues her recovery, the Folignos remain committed to raising awareness about congenital heart defects through their foundation, The Heart\u2019s Playbook. The team’s dedication to Milana and their impressive performance in her honor demonstrate the strong bond within the team and their capacity for growth and resilience.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n