Damar Hamlin Shares Remarkable Recovery With Teammates On Facetime

According to TMZ, on Friday, the Buffalo Bills player made news headlines when it was revealed that he joined his teammates on a Facetime call. The call was a team meeting and they were all glad that he was able to make an appearance, albeit virtually. Through the call, it was deduced that Hamlin could now breathe on his own, as he had been moved off breathing tubes and mechanical oxygen. The Bills also made an announcement on social media making it known that the breathing tube was removed overnight while adding that the 24-year-old's recovery was remarkable.

During a Monday night game between the Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, the young player suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing. This occurred shortly after he made a tackle at the Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. After the shocking incident, the team, local paramedics, and independent medical personnel worked together to administer CPR. They were able to get his heart beating again before rushing him to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Amid the first quarter of the game, the star player had been tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins when his health failed him. The exchange between the pair was deemed a normal routine that did not appear violent. Higgins had been running on a 13-yard pass, coming through with his right shoulder which collided with Hamlin's chest.

The latter made a countering move by wrapping his arms around his opponent's shoulders and helmet to drag him down. Instead, he got to his feet, slightly adjusted his face mask, and fell backward, landing on his back. Hamlin was down for 19 minutes before he was transferred to the medical center.

In their separate statements, the Bills and the NFL made it known that Hamlin's heart started pumping again while he was on the field even before the medical team at the hospital took over. The NFL Players Association shared a tweet stating, "The NFLPA and everyone in our community is praying for Damar Hamlin. We have been in touch with Bills and Bengals players, and with the NFL. The only thing that matters at this moment is Damar’s health and well-being.” 

Higgins was full of prayers on Twitter as he reached out to the ailing player's family while wishing him a swift recovery. The Buffalo Bills quarterback, Josh Allen took to social media asking fans to "pray for our brother." Basketball great LeBron James showed immense support as he shared powerful words of prayer for Hamlin, his teammates, and the NFL.

More stars across the NFL showed their support letting the Hamlins know they were with them in that difficult period. The fans from both teams camped outside the hospital with lit candles and prayers.

Updates from the Bills later showed that Hamlin had been in critical condition. The next few days included close monitoring. Hamlin's family shared that while he was still in the intensive care unit, he appeared to be tilting toward signs of improvement. By Thursday, his recovery status was described as "remarkable."

In retrospect, the AFC game between the Bengals and the Bills was postponed due to the chaotic incident at the stadium. However, it took the NFL one hour to reach a consensus. This was because the association was trying to gather information from the referee, coaches from both teams, and the NFL Players Association to know the state of things.

Even as he fought for his life in the ICU, the football star kept his team in mind. According to the doctors, one of the star's thoughts, after he woke up, had to do with questions about the game. Hamlin had asked if his team won the match. He had been sedated amid his critical condition, but when he came, Hamlin could communicate by writing. His doctor, Timothy Pritts, recalled replying by letting him know he won the "game of life."

Hamlin played college football for five years in his hometown of Pittsburgh before being drafted by the Bills in 2021. He was drafted in the sixth round. As a rookie, he appeared in fourteen games, before replacing inure Micah Hyde as a starter this season.