Bills safety Hamlin released from Cincinnati hospital, returns to
Buffalo
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[January 10, 2023]
By Frank Pingue
(Reuters) - Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been released from
a Cincinnati hospital one week after suffering a cardiac arrest
during an NFL game and has returned to Buffalo, New York, doctors
said on Monday.
Doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) where
Hamlin spent the last week said he traveled well by air and will
continue to be monitored by a care team in Buffalo.
"As standard with anybody who has gone through what he's gone
through this past week, and certainly after flying on a plane, he's
going to be observed and monitored to ensure that there's no impact
on the flight of his condition or on his lungs." Dr. William Knight
told reporters.
"I can confirm he is doing well and this is the beginning of the
next stage of his recovery.
Knight also said that since Friday Hamlin had been up with physical
and occupational therapy walking the unit with "a normal gait,"
tolerating a regular diet and meeting with family and many members
of the care team.
"Grateful for the awesome care I received at UCMC. Happy to be back
in Buffalo," Hamlin wrote on Twitter.
The 24-year-old collapsed during a game against the Cincinnati
Bengals last Monday moments after making a tackle and then had to
have his heartbeat restored on the field while stunned players from
both teams cried, prayed and hugged.
But Hamlin quickly made remarkable strides in his recovery as he
woke up two days later, had his breathing tube removed on Friday and
then watched the Bills regular-season finale from his bed on Sunday.
Hamlin was recognised around the NFL over the weekend as players
from all teams donned Hamlin-inspired apparel while moments of
support for him were recognised at various stadiums.
The Bills wore "3" patches on their uniforms in honor of Hamlin's
jersey number while many fans held up signs in support of the
second-year NFL player and first responders who helped save his
life.
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A scoreboard message in support of injured Buffalo Bills and former
Pittsburgh Panthers defensive back Damar Hamlin is shown during the
first half between the Pittsburgh Panthers and the Virginia
Cavaliers basketball teams at the Petersen Events Center. Mandatory
Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
'AMAZING FEELING'
Hamlin said on Twitter that he is now at Buffalo General Medical
Center where doctors and nurses have already made him feel at home.
"Watching the world come together around me on Sunday was truly an
amazing feeling," he tweeted.
"The same love you all have shown me is the same love that I plan to
put back into the world n more."
While Hamlin surprised team mates on a video call last Friday and
again after Sunday's game, Bills head coach Sean McDermott told
reporters that having him back in Buffalo was an added boost for the
players.
"Like anything else when you have your family close by it just feels
right. Feels better," said McDermott. "It's just good knowing he's
nearby."
Bengals coach Zac Taylor was also relieved to hear about Hamlin's
return to Buffalo.
"That's unbelievable," Taylor told reporters. "I mean, just think
about it - that was one week, not even a week ago. There's no one in
this room that would have expected he'd be in Buffalo.
"God is great. He works miracles. This is certainly a miracle,
there's no question."
(This story has been refiled to add dropped word in headline.)
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Additional reporting by Steve
Keating; Editing by Leslie Adler and Ken Ferris)
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