More good news is coming out regarding Damar Hamlin‘s recovery. Doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center confirmed the Bills safety has made “substantial improvement” after being hospitalized due to cardiac arrest.
Hamlin’s neurological condition and function appear intact, Dr. Timothy Pritts said Thursday (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, on Twitter). Hamlin has not regained the ability to speak and is using a breathing tube, but he asked his nurse, via pen and paper on a clipboard, who won Monday night’s Bills-Bengals game, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Hamlin remains critically ill, according to the doctors, but he has resumed the use of his hands and feet.
Both doctors and the Bills addressed Hamlin’s neurological functions, and Dr. William Knight said the Pittsburgh-area native has been holding many people’s hands in his room over the past several hours (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). While Hamlin will need to progress to breathing on his own, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo adds (via Twitter) doctors are now discussing him being sent home.
Doctors are still determining the cause of Hamlin’s cardiac arrest, with commotio cordis — an extremely rare condition that emerges after chest trauma produces waves of electricity that can alter heart rhythm — being one of the possibilities, Garafolo tweets. Hamlin will need to resume breathing on his own to be upgraded to stable condition, the Buffalo News’ Jay Skurski tweets.
The doctors have informed Hamlin it is far too soon to know if he will be able to play football again, via ESPN.com’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter), but considering where this situation was as recently as Wednesday, that is a secondary concern. Dr. Knight confirmed Hamlin had a pulse and then lost it while surrounded by medical personnel. The CPR performed at Paycor Stadium resuscitated Hamlin, who suddenly fell backward after making a first-quarter tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.
Doctors said Hamlin has been made aware his charity — the Chasing M’s Foundation — has received more than $7MM in donations, Skurski tweets. Numerous NFL players and coaches have made donations. The developments of the past 24 hours have revitalized the Bills, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who adds (via Twitter) the team erupted with applause after Damar’s father, Mario Hamlin, informed the team of his son’s progress. We will continue to provide updates on Hamlin’s condition as news develops.
This is awesome. It was nice to see his family and friends saying he was making improvements, but I couldn’t help but think they were looking for the best possible outcome like anybody else would in that situation. Seeing this coming from medical professionals is very encouraging!
Agree. still praying for a full recovery but the positive update is uplifting after a truly scary situation
Thank god for the medical personnel. Those people saved a dead life. Incredible. I hope he can go home and be with his family and just recover. He’s got a lot of powerful, positive energy going his way.
The fact that he can write is incredibly encouraging, I would think! It shows his brain is functioning and that he has cognitive and motor skills. Bravo to the medical people of the universe!!!
Memory of the game is a really good sign. You cement your short term memories while in REM sleep. You can’t do that in a medical induced coma.
When people complain about the money these guys make this is the reason why I have no problem with it. Who knows what down the road will be. He has not played long enough to be vested into league health insurance. Unless they changed it might have still could be a long road back. Other players that have career ending injuries. They still have to get to all the Dr visits all therapy etc.
Granted some go on to live a good life until they get older then differing ailments happen. Still many feel the money they make is for family not them they realize they are cutting their life short. I am glad Damar is doing good and hope he continues to make progress. Continuing to play will be his his family and Drs.
This is the best news of the day. And when he improves even more tomorrow and all the days ahead that will be the best news for those days as well. Keep on keeping on young man.
I want to know what the nurse replied to his question and how he responded.
TBD
in the press conference the doctors said that they responded with ‘you won damar, you won the game of life’
legit thats what they said
If he can ever play again I wonder if he’ll even want to.
Given what his first question was, I’d say that the chances are high.
better question is will NFL let him.. safe answer is No.
commotio cordis