Pitre, a huge, lifelong Senators fan known as "The Butterfly Boy" has been in Minneapolis since the summer with his mother Tina Boileau. He is
participating in a clinical trial at the University of Minnesota
that aims to stop the advancement of his rare and painful skin condition, Epidermolysis bullosa. Pitre is the first Canadian to take part in the groundbreaking trial.
They left their home in Ottawa in August, a few months after his 16th birthday, and
were able to go back for a month around Christmas
when he was between bone marrow transplants from his mother. His next treatment is scheduled for early April.
So Ottawa's road game in Minnesota on Thursday was perfectly timed for a surprise visit to lift his spirits.
"It means a whole lot," Pitre said. "One of the biggest reasons for that is we're going in for a transplant in two days now and it just gave me a big confidence boost and a bunch of other reasons I cannot describe. It's amazing. I'm just so grateful for them to come, to take the time to come see me."
The Senators contacted Boileau saying a few players wanted to drop by, but that quickly changed to the entire team. Because their apartment in Minneapolis is small, they had to meet the team in the lobby.
"It was a nice surprise," Boileau said. "I think it was really an uplifting day. The smile that Jonathan had on his face was priceless and no medicine or medication could do something like this."
