Brian B次元官网网址淩edB次元官网网址� Hamilton was in the middle of moving equipment on the Vancouver CanucksB次元官网网址� bench in between periods on Oct. 23 in Seattle when he noticed a woman behind the bench pressing her phone against the plexiglass.
The message on her phone was written in a large font and caught the attention of Hamilton, the assistant equipment manager for the Canucks. The message expressed Nadia PopoviciB次元官网网址檚 concern that she believed a mole on the back of HamiltonB次元官网网址檚 neck was cancerous and that he needed to get it checked.
It turned out she was right.
B次元官网网址淚 felt bad at the moment because IB次元官网网址檓 walking off the bench and she put her phone up to the glass and on the phone it said the mole on the back of your neck is cancer. And it threw me off,B次元官网网址� Hamilton recalled on Saturday before the Canucks played their second game of the season in Seattle. B次元官网网址淪o I kind of just shrugged and kept going. My initial response when I found out was I felt bad because I felt like I didnB次元官网网址檛 really give her the time of day. IB次元官网网址檓 excited that she knows because she needs to know.B次元官网网址�
The retelling the story of how all this played out and expressing his thanks and desire to meet the woman in question. Within barely an hour, both the Canucks and Seattle Kraken said Popovici had been contacted and arrangements were being made for the pair to try and meet before the Kraken and Canucks game on Saturday night.
"She extended my life. I've got a wonderful family. I've got a wonderful daughter. She saved my life."
B次元官网网址� Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks)
馃棧 Part 1 of Brian "Red" Hamilton's interview with the media after finding the woman who he calls his hero
Hamilton has been with the Canucks for nearly 20 years, starting with the team in 2002. Amid the chaos that happens around the bench of an NHL game, Hamilton said he was amazed Popovici was able to even notice a mole he had no idea existed.
B次元官网网址淗ow she saw it boggles my mind,B次元官网网址� Hamilton said. B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 very big. I wear a jacket. I wear a radio on the back of my jacket that hooks on so the chords are there.B次元官网网址�
The internet community helped us find Brian's hero, Nadia, and tonight they met in person where he got to express his sincerest thank you to her for saving his life.
B次元官网网址� Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks)
A story of human compassion at its finest.
The game in Seattle in October was the final stop on the CanucksB次元官网网址� opening road trip. Within a couple days of being back in Vancouver, Hamilton had team doctors look at the mole in question. When they expressed concern, Hamilton had it removed a few days later and sent off to be biopsied.
The biopsy results came back showing there were cancerous cells in the mole. A larger area of skin around the mole was then removed to be examined and Hamilton said that came back negative.
READ MORE: Full Canucks coverage
Hamilton was told by his doctors the cancer in the mole could have become life-threatening in a few years if it had not been addressed.
B次元官网网址淚t was only on the outer layer of my skin,B次元官网网址� Hamilton said. B次元官网网址淚t hadnB次元官网网址檛 penetrated to the second layer of my skin and thatB次元官网网址檚 because we caught it so early.B次元官网网址�
Hamilton said the entire purpose of telling his story and releasing the letter was to give Popovici recognition for her effort in getting his attention and writing the message.
"The reason for the letter (today) was that I really wanted her to know her persistence and everything she did to get my attention, she saved my life." -Brian (Red) Hamilton
B次元官网网址� Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks)
B次元官网网址淚 understand IB次元官网网址檓 a part of the story, but she needs to know sheB次元官网网址檚 the story,B次元官网网址� Hamilton said. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 the person that did this. She saved the life. B次元官网网址� She needs to know her efforts were valid and bang on.B次元官网网址�
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