'Who won?': Bills' Hamlin awake, communicating, doctors
say
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[January 06, 2023]
By Amy Tennery and Rory Carroll
(Reuters) -Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin has been able to awaken
and communicate with his medical team after the safety suffered
cardiac arrest on the field during a Monday night NFL game in
Cincinnati, his doctors told reporters on Thursday.
Two physicians caring for the 24-year-old said he was "demonstrating
signs of good neurological recovery" and was able to communicate in
writing.
Hamlin remains on a ventilator in the intensive care unit (ICU) at
University of Cincinnati Medical Center to assist his breathing.
He collapsed on the field after making a tackle in the first quarter
of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals and had to have his
heartbeat restored on the field.
The physicians said Hamlin had in writing asked who won the game.
The response: "Damar, you won - you won the game of life," Dr
Timothy Pritts said.
That he was asking about the outcome of the game showed, "it's not
only that the lights are on - he's home," Pritts said. "It appears
that all cylinders are firing within his brain, which is greatly
gratifying."
Dr William Knight described the last three days for Hamlin as a long
and difficult road. "He has been very sick and has made a fairly
remarkable recovery."
The positive update was welcome news for the Bills, as they prepare
for their final regular season contest on Sunday.
An emotional Bills quarterback Josh Allen told reporters on Thursday
about receiving word their teammate was awake and thinking of them.
"His dad said the first thing he is going to ask when he wakes up is
ask who won the game," said Allen. "Sure enough that's what he did.
"As teammates you love hearing that response," Allen continued. "The
first thing on his mind wasn't poor me it was how are my teammates
doing, did we win this game and that's powerful in itself.
"We heard that news this morning and there was nothing that could
have been told to us to bring our day down."
The next milestone, doctors said, was getting Hamlin breathing
completely on his own.
They said it was too soon to say whether the hit or a preexisting
condition caused Hamlin to go into cardiac arrest.
Asked whether there was a possibility of him playing professional
football again, Knight told reporters: "It's entirely too early to
have that conversation."
Knight said Hamlin was still critically ill and remained in the ICU,
adding that the focus was on getting him off the ventilator "and on
the road to recovery."
The doctors credited the Bills' medical staff for quickly
recognizing that Hamlin had no pulse and promptly administering
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
"This went as well as something like this can go under very
challenging circumstances and they did a fantastic job, which is why
we're here today," Pritts said.
[to top of second column] |
Jan 2, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA;
Buffalo Bills linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) and cornerback Cam
Lewis (39) and cornerback Siran Neal (33) react to the life
threatening injury sustained by safety Damar Hamlin (not pictured)
during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor
Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
BILLS GET BACK TO WORK
The game, which Cincinnati led 7-3, was postponed after the injury
and the league late Thursday announced that it would not resume at
all.
The Bills were back on the practice field on Thursday preparing for
their crucial regular season finale, when they host the New England
Patriots.
The Bills are battling the Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs for the
top seed in the American Football Conference, which comes with a
first-round playoff bye.
"Yesterday Damar's father spoke to the team and the message was the
team needs to get back on focusing on the goals they had set for
themselves," said Bills head coach Sean McDermott. "I'm paraphrasing
him but Damar would have wanted it that way and that includes our
game against New England this week."
"The news today was a big help getting us back focused on the game
this weekend," McDermott added.
Fans, athletes, celebrities and politicians, including U.S.
President Joe Biden, have all offered Hamlin their prayers and
support.
Famed Niagara Falls - both the American Falls and Canadian Horseshoe
Falls - were illuminated in Bills blue on Tuesday as a show of
support for Hamlin, the team and the nearby city of Buffalo.
NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said he
hoped this incident "sends a message" to fans and the NFL community.
"Our men are not gladiators," Smith said. "I hope ... that people
are aware of the humanity of this game - and yes, it's dangerous,
and yes, it's scary, yes, it's entertainment.
"But my hope is that people understand and appreciate the sheer
humanity of this game."
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto; Additional reporting Amy
Tennery in New York and Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Bill
Berkrot)
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