ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – “Prayers for Damar 3” was answered. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is finally home.
Nine days after he stunned and upset his teammates by going into cardiac arrest and being resuscitated on the field in Cincinnati and causing an NFL suspension, Hamlin was released from a Buffalo hospital on Wednesday, the Bills announced.
“We have completed a series of tests and evaluations, and after consulting with team physicians, we are confident that Damar can be safely discharged,” Dr. Jamie Nadler said in a news release issued by the team.
It marks the next major step in what doctors have called a remarkable recovery for Hamlin, which comes two days after he was deemed well enough to be transferred from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to Buffalo General Medical Center. Nadler said Hamlin, 24, will continue his rehab with the Bills.
The Bills and Nadler did not release the results of tests Hamlin underwent two days ago in Buffalo to determine the cause of his cardiac arrest after he hit Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins squarely in the chest on what appeared to be a routine tackle. Hamlin collapsed during the first quarter of Buffalo’s canceled game at Cincinnati on Jan. 2, a horrific scene that played out in front of millions on television.
“It just shows the type of kid he is, how he’s fought and continues to win,” Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins said. “There’s no place he’d rather be than in his own bed, so blessings to him.”
As Hamlin recovers, the Bills’ and NFL’s messaging switched from “Pray for Damar 3” to “Love for Damar 3” over the weekend as the league honored Hamlin, who wears No. 3. The Bills and their fans capped off an emotionally draining week with a win over Nova England is 35-23 in the regular season.
“It’s a great feeling. And we just hope he rests and recovers,” quarterback Josh Allen said Wednesday after practice as the Bills (13-3) prepared to host their division rival Miami Dolphins (9-8) in the playoffs wild card. game on Sunday. “As a team, we are very happy.”
While the players are eager to see Hamlin in person, Allen cautioned that at this point, it may have to wait for Hamlin to regain his strength.
“Just making sure he’s taking it slow and obviously trying to come back to himself,” Allen added. “So we’ll take all the time we need. But I hope he knows the guys are ready to see him.”
Coach Sean McDermott said Hamlin will decide when to visit the team, saying, “We’ll have him back when he’s ready.”
Hamlin spent his first two days in the hospital under sedation and showed no signs of neurological damage when he was awakened on January 4. On Friday, he was breathing and walking on his own and appeared via video conference at a team meeting where he told Bill, “I love you guys.”
Hamlin was live-tweeting during the Bills’ win Sunday, and doctors joked that he set off a lot of alarms in the intensive care unit watching teammate Nyheim Hines return the kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown.
After moving to Buffalo, Hamlin posted a note on Twitter that read, “Special thanks to General Buffalo, it’s been nothing but love since arriving!” while asking his followers to keep him in their prayers.
His doctors said Hamlin’s progress in recovering from cardiac arrest, which is considered a life-threatening event, has been normal or accelerated.
In the days that followed, $8.6 million in GoFundMe donations flowed into Hamlin’s toy drive fundraiser, which will be used to support young people through education and sports.
Hamlin, who hails from the Pittsburgh suburb of McKees Rock, will also use proceeds from the sale of new T-shirts that say “Did We Win?” along with heart-shaped hands to raise money for the Cincinnati trauma center where he was initially treated.
___
Associated Press reporter Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo contributed to this report.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Hamlin Bills released from Buffalo hospital :: WRALSportsFan.com
Source link Hamlin Bills released from Buffalo hospital :: WRALSportsFan.com