We lost a beautiful ray of sunshine ... goodbye Ari

By LOU KORAC

I didn't know Arianna Dougan all that well. Just three days as a matter of fact, I got to spend with this ray of sunshine, frail as she seemed but so full of positive energy, so full of life, such a breath of fresh air.

I remember seeing Ari for the first time at the morning skate inside Gila River Arena in Glendale, Ariz. before the Blues took on the Arizona Coyotes that night in March. She was standing by the tunnel's runway waiting for the Blues to come onto the ice, high-fiving each of them as they came out of the locker room. That was my first sight of her.

Ari and Tarasenko

Ari's smile was rambunctious. She was having the time of her life, and when her favorite Blue (Vladimir Tarasenko) came out, a smile so bright got even brighter.

Tarasenko and his wife Yana are the ones who arranged for Ari and her mother Lori Zucker to accompany the Blues on a two-game road trip to Arizona and Colorado after winning the bid for a trip package at the Blues' fundraiser Casino Night. She turned 11 on Feb. 11 but her best present came six weeks later, but the fulfilled her heart that night when they surprised her with her gift.

Forget any kind of sickness, Ari was counting down the seconds for this trip. That's all that mattered.

I remember sitting there knowing I had a job to do, watching the Blues' lines and who was going to play to report back to Blues fans, as I normally do every gameday. But it was hard to take my eyes off Ari, knowing how much this meant to her.

We all take for granted the smallest things in life, but for Ari, this was larger than life. This meant the world to her, spending time with her favorite sports team and the athletes that welcomed her with open arms. 

Forget the job. I was enamored by this child. Work didn't matter. Because Ari, whose innocent world was rocked by neuroblastoma when she was 3, was all that mattered. I couldn't take my eyes off her. Ari made sure to set a fine example for all those around her to take each precious second of life and make the most of it.

She didn't want anyone feeling sorry for her. She wanted to be treated as any other child would. 

My heart was full when I watched Ari mingle with the players on the bus ride over to the morning skate in Denver, watching her tell jokes to Ivan Barbashev and Jordan Schmaltz, keeping the young Blues guessing; watching Ari sit in with Carter Hutton and Ryan Reaves for a segment of 'zero to 60;' seeing Ari on the video board at each venue getting love and support from the Coyotes and Avalanche alike. That's all that mattered to Ari, not the cruel circumstances placed upon her young and innocent life.

Every time I saw Ari throughout the trip, she would smile and give me a high-five. Who am I to feel sorry for her going through what she was going through? That kid was so strong-willed. So naturally, I felt obligated to make her feel as normal and comfortable as possible.

Ari got to see her beloved Blues play in person, on the road; she was one of them and will continue to be one of them, in their hearts. 

Ari returned from that trip with the Blues with the greatest thank you to the organization for fulfilling her dream. She made up a giant emoji thanking Tarasenko for making this a reality for her.

No Ari, thank you

Today, Ari didn't fail life. Life failed her. She succumbed to her illness, far too young. Life isn't fair. She deserved to have her first crush, her first kiss, falling in love, having children of her own and most importantly, a normal childhood to have friends and play. But it was taken away from her. I can't begin to understand why. She didn't deserve this outcome. 

But I'm glad I got to meet this incredible young lady, because just looking at her helped me remember what's so great about life, what's so great about living. 

Goodbye Ari. Your wings await you in heaven, you beautiful little angel.