In what can only be called a miracle, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is awake and responding after suffering cardiac arrest during Monday night’s football game (January 2).
Damar Hamlin’s doctors spoke out for the first time in a news conference Thursday and addressed his “substantial improvements.” Doctors from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center shared that Hamlin’s first thoughts upon waking up from a medically induced coma were about the football game.
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Hamlin can’t speak due to to a breathing tube, but asked in writing who won Monday’s Bills vs. Bengals game.
“When he asked did we win, the answer is, yes, you know, Damar, you won, you’ve won the game of life,” Dr. Timothy Pritts said.
Hamlin’s first comments were to a nurse at his bedside, According to doctors, Hamlin’s first comments were directed to a nurse, but family and friends have been at his side since he was hospitalized Monday.
“He’s held many peoples’ hands,” Dr. William Knight IV said, while Dr. Pritts added, “He’s been very interactive with them.”
Doctors told Hamlin that he had been sedated for two days and the athlete responded with surprise.
“It’s not only that the lights are on, it’s that he’s home,” Pritts said. “All of the cylinders are firing right in his brain.”
But Dr. Knight said it was too early in to know whether he will make a full recovery and return to professional football. The next goal for the doctors is to get Hamlin breathing entirely on his own.
Despite the significant improvements in his recovery, Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition and in the Surgical and Trauma Intensive Care Unit.
About Damar Hamlin’s accident….
Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after making a tackle during Monday night’s game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals. He received CPR for roughly 10 minutes and was revived with an AED on the field before being transported via ambulance to a local hospital.
Watch Damar Hamlin’s doctors speak to the press in the video below.