Another batch of positive developments has surfaced from Damar Hamlin‘s recovery Friday. The hospitalized defender no longer needs his breathing tube and was able to speak to Bills teammates, the team announced.
After speaking to his family and select staffers at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Hamlin told Bills teammates, via Facetime, “Love you boys” (Twitter links). Doctors removed Hamlin’s breathing tube overnight. Hamlin cannot say much yet, but his ensuing words to his teammates, understandably, “brought the house down,” SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets.
Hamlin’s doctors have indicated he is ahead of schedule in his recovery from cardiac arrest. The 24-year-old safety collapsed on the field in the first quarter of the Bills-Bengals matchup Monday. He required CPR at Paycor Stadium, where he was resuscitated, and as of Wednesday needed to be on a ventilator. By Thursday, Hamlin had awakened and was using his hands and feet.
Doctors said Thursday that Hamlin appeared to be neurologically intact, and the Bills’ latest statement indicates the same. During Hamlin’s short address to his teammates, Sean McDermott said he gave them a thumbs-up and “flexed on them,” ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg tweets. Bills GM Brandon Beane stayed in Cincinnati through Thursday.
“I simply asked what would I want someone to do for my son,” Beane said. “I have two boys. Sean wanted to stay, too, but we decided he had to be with and lead our team back in Buffalo. It was a rollercoaster.”
A number of NFL tributes will take place this weekend; his charity has received nearly $8MM in donations. Hamlin’s doctors said Thursday it is far too soon to know if he will ever play football again, but considering where this situation was as recently as midweek, these latest rounds of updates have illustrated a remarkable turn of events.
Awesome news! It would shock me if he were able to play again but I’m also a bit shocked that he has progressed this much in just a few days so who knows.
Does he want to play agai. Might be an important question. You would have to be able to get on the di er of without fear and that might be hard in this situation
I agree. He’s got a long road ahead of him before he would even have to ponder the idea anyway.
I wouldn’t be shocked if he plays again. But I also wouldn’t be surprised if he does decide to hang them up, and if other guys decide to retire early this off season
Dj Hayden had a traumatic injury in college where he collided with a teammate during practice. His main blood vessel, the vena cava, that brings blood from the lower extremities back to the heart, was nearly completely torn off the back of his heart.
Had a decent career lasting 9 years. Didn’t live up to his draft status by the Raiders, but even at the time people questioned drafting him that high knowing what happened to him like 6 months before or something.
A similar incident occurred in 1998 with NHL Hall of Famer Chris Pronger. Took a slap shot to the chest. Went down. Got up. Went wobbly and then went out cold. Same as Hamlin.
Pronger played the next game.
The BIG difference was that Pronger never stopped breathing on his own, but now that Hamlin is doing so, he might well be able to resume his career at some point. IF he even wants to, of course.
That’s the difference between wind knocked out of you and cardiac arrest. Not the same
If he is IR’ed will he accrue time towards his pension?
Players need three years (I think) to be vested in their pension.
Many roads up ahead for Hamlin. Maybe play again, become a coach,motivational speaker.
Hope him and his family the best.