Damar Hamlin back home in Buffalo for further treatment
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WHAM) — Bills safety Damar Hamlin is back home in Buffalo for further treatment, just over one week after suffering cardiac arrest mid-game.
University of Cincinnati Medical Center physicians Dr. William Knight and Dr. Timothy Pritts said Hamlin was released Monday morning and returned to Buffalo to receive more medical care.
Hamlin tweeted shortly after the announcement thanking supporters for the outpouring of love.
"Watching the world come together around me on Sunday was truly an amazing feeling," Hamlin said in his tweet. "The same love you all have shown me is the same love that I plan to put back into the world n more. Bigger than football!"
He is now listed in stable condition at Buffalo General Medical Center and "continues to make significant progress in his recovery."
"The goal of the transfer to Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute is to get him closer to home for further evaluation, recovery and eventually discharge and rehabilitation," according to a release from Kaleida Health.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott visited Hamlin in Buffalo on Monday, saying it was a relief to see him on the road to recovery,
"He's just tired, but seems happy to be back in Buffalo," McDermott said. "I think overall, it just continues to put our minds at ease that he's in good hands and moving in the right direction."
It remains unclear what caused Hamlin to collapse and go into cardiac arrest during the game last Monday night. Medical personnel gave him CPR on the field and resuscitated him before he was taken to the hospital.
Hamlin, 24, has made significant progress in his recovery since spending his first two days at the hospital under sedation and breathing through a ventilator.
He was awakened on Wednesday night and was eventually able to grip people’s hands. By Friday, Hamlin was able to breathe on his own and even addressed the team by videoconference, in which he told the Bills, “Love you boys.”
The latest update from doctors came on Saturday, when they described Hamlin’s neurological function as “excellent,” though he remained listed in critical condition. Later that day, Hamlin tweeted: “Putting love into the world comes back 3xs as much thankful for everyone who has reached out and prayed. This will make me stronger on the road to recovery, keep praying for me!”
Doctors said Hamlin has been walking since Friday, and eating regular food and undergoing therapy. They said he was on a normal or even accelerated trajectory in his recovery from cardiac arrest, which is considered a life-threatening event. Normal recovery from something like this can be measured from weeks to months, they said.
Hamlin's Monday release from the hospital comes one day after he cheered the Bills on from his hospital bed during their 35-23 win over the New England Patriots. Doctors said Hamlin was jumping up and down when Nyheim Hines returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
The Bills wore No. 3 Hamlin patches on their jerseys and honored their teammate by raising three fingers in the closing minutes, while tight end Dawson Knox celebrated his touchdown by forming his hands into the shape of a heart.
The NFL showed support for Hamlin during all Week 18 games by including a pregame moment of support, painting Hamlin’s No. 3 on the 30-yard line and pregame shirts with “Love for Damar 3.”
Doctors said it was premature to speculate about Hamlin's future on the field.
He is now selling T-shirts with his first words asked after he woke up after his injury, "Did we win"? He said proceeds will go to first responders and the UC Trauma Center.
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Editor's note:The Associated Press contributed to this report.