Damar Hamlin’s recovery has progressed to the point that the Buffalo Bills safety has posted his first public statement.
via: People
The 24-year-old Buffalo Bills safety, who had to be resuscitated on the field and was transferred to the hospital in critical condition following the incident, has made major strides in his recovery over the past few days and is now speaking out.
“Putting love into the world comes back 3xs as much… thankful for everyone who has reached out and prayed,” Hamlin tweeted on Saturday afternoon. “This will make me stronger on the road to recovery, keep praying for me! ”
The National Football League plans to do just that, as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced on Saturday that players and coaches across all 32 NFL teams would wear “Love for Damar 3” t-shirts during their warm-ups before games over the weekend “in a league-wide show of support for Damar.”
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! ??3??
— ????? ?????? (@HamlinIsland) January 7, 2023
The Buffalo Bills say players also hope to send their support to their teammate by wearing a special “3” patch for Hamlin during their match against the New England Patriots on Sunday. The team officially placed Hamlin on the injured reserve list on Friday.
The Bills announced that Hamlin was breathing on his own and had been able to speak to his family and care staff on Friday. On the same day, head coach Sean McDermott also said the team also got to speak to Hamlin for the first time since the accident via video call.
“We were able to hear him say, ‘I love you boys,’ to the team and to the people in the room,” McDermott said on Audacy’s WGR 550 SportsRadio show, The Extra Point with Sal & Joe.
McDermott said it was “touching to see Damar, number one, through my own eyes,” during the call. “I know that’s something I’d been looking forward to, kind of needing to see, I guess.”
Hamlin’s doctors noted on Thursday that his “neurologic function remains intact” as he was able to move his hands and feet, but more tests needed to be done to determine the cause of his cardiac arrest.
One of his physicians, Dr. William Knight IV, further explained to the media that it is “entirely too early to project into the future” regarding a full recovery, as Hamlin’s long-term recovery is still “a little ways” away.
