After 16 Months in the Hospital, 3-Year-Old Tampa Bay Lightning Fan Finally Gets His Dream Night

Tampa, Florida — After spending the first 16 months of his life in the hospital, 3-year-old John Ream is finally getting the chance to experience something his family once feared might never be possible: attending his first Tampa Bay Lightning hockey game.

John and his family are set to watch the Lightning play at Benchmark International Arena on Thursday night after his doctors approved the outing. For the Tampa family, the moment represents far more than a night of hockey. It marks another milestone in a journey filled with serious medical challenges, uncertainty and moments of hope.

The young fan’s connection with the Lightning began long before he was healthy enough to attend a game.

Born at Just 1 Pound, John Faced a Difficult Start

John was born in April 2023 at 23 weeks and two days of pregnancy, weighing just 1 pound, 6 ounces.

His mother, Nicole Ream, learned during a routine anatomy scan at 20 weeks that she was already in active labor. What followed was an extended and frightening medical journey for John and his parents, Nicole and Jordan.

John’s condition remained fragile during his early months. At around two months old, he became critically ill, and doctors warned his family that he might have only hours or days to live.

“He was never stable, but he got real sick at two months old, really sick, and they told us that he had hours to days to live,” Nicole said.

John required intubation for months before doctors eventually placed a tracheostomy tube, commonly known as a trach, to help him breathe.

His parents initially brought him home when he was nine months old. But just two days later, he experienced a cardiac arrest and had to receive emergency medical care.

The family tried again after he returned home a second time, but John suffered another cardiac arrest two weeks later.

“And then, he came home again and then coded two weeks later again at home, and then after that, we were like, we’re not bringing him home again,” she said. “He coded five more times in the hospital.”

John ultimately spent 16 months at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, as his family waited and hoped for the day he could safely leave the hospital for good.

How Thunderbug Became His Favorite Companion

Throughout John’s hospital stay, his family found moments of comfort through their shared love of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Nicole and Jordan are Tampa natives and lifelong Lightning fans. While John was receiving treatment, a charitable organization helped make his hospital room feel more like home by decorating it with Lightning-themed items.

Among those items was a stuffed toy of Thunderbug, the team’s beloved mascot. The little toy soon became one of John’s favorite possessions.

“And the only thing that made him smile was the Thunderbug stuffy,” Nicole said.

When John’s first birthday arrived, his parents organized a Lightning-themed celebration inside the hospital. The occasion brought an especially memorable surprise: Thunderbug himself showed up to celebrate with John.

The mascot continued visiting the family during John’s extended hospital stay, giving them opportunities to enjoy moments that felt a little more like ordinary childhood experiences.

“When he would be in there and playing with John, it was like you could, you blocked everything else out, and you saw, ‘I have a normal child. I have a normal life. He’s playing with Thunderbug like every other kid does’,” Nicole said.

For his parents, those visits offered a welcome break from the constant uncertainty surrounding their son’s health.

John Finally Gets the Green Light for His First Game

John’s long-awaited journey home finally happened in September 2024, when Thunderbug escorted him out of the hospital.

His progress has continued since then. John began talking less than a year ago, and his trach was removed in June, marking another important step in his recovery.

Now, after years of medical challenges, his doctors have approved his attendance at a Tampa Bay Lightning game.

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When the team learned John was ready for his first game, it arranged a private suite at Benchmark International Arena for him and his family on Thursday night.

Nicole said she received the call that morning and was stunned by the news.

“Honestly, when she called me, I didn’t have words,” she said. “I’m kind of speechless and I’m not someone who’s ever speechless.”

For John, the game offers a chance to see his favorite team in person. For his parents, it is a moment they once could only hope for while spending countless days at the hospital.

After 16 months in medical care, repeated emergencies and an uncertain start to life, John’s first Lightning game represents another meaningful milestone in his journey.

What an incredible moment for John and his family. Share your thoughts in the comments, and tell us about a special experience that gave your family hope during a difficult time.