Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been discharged from Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute to continue his recovery at home, the team announced Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Hamlin heads home nine days after he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest during a “Monday Night Football” game against the Bengals.
- After spending six days at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, he was released from the Ohio hospital on Monday and transported to Buffalo to continue his recovery at a local hospital.
- Hamlin had a comprehensive medical evaluation and underwent a series of cardiac, neurological and vascular testing Tuesday, per the Bills.
An amazing Damar Hamlin update. ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/GyP2uDQry0
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 11, 2023
What they’re saying
“We are confident that Damar can be safely discharged to continue his rehabilitation at home and with the Bills,” Dr. Jamie Nadler, a critical care physician and the chief quality officer at Kaleida Heath, said in the team’s statement.
GO DEEPER
What are the likely next steps for Damar Hamlin in his recovery?
Backstory
Hamlin collapsed after tackling Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins late in the first quarter. Hamlin got up and took a few steps after the tackle before collapsing and going into cardiac arrest. The response on the field was immediate as Bills medical personnel rushed to his aid and stabilized his head and neck.
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After Hamlin collapsed, he received one defibrillation and one round of CPR on the field. He didn’t receive a second in the ambulance or at the hospital. Knight previously said he and his fellow physicians “cannot credit (the Bills medical staff) enough” for quickly recognizing the situation.
Hamlin was taken from Paycor Stadium to UC Medical Center and placed in the intensive care unit in critical condition and sedated.
Last Wednesday, Hamlin was alert and able to follow commands and communicate in writing. He was unable to speak while still using a breathing tube. Doctors at UC Health Medical Center provided a health update Thursday on Hamlin, saying the 24-year-old had made a “fairly remarkable recovery and improvement.” On Wednesday night, Hamlin was alert and able to follow commands and communicate in writing. He was unable to speak while still using a breathing tube.
On Saturday, doctors said Hamlin remained in critical condition, but continued to breathe on his own. They described his neurological function as “excellent.”
In social media posts Sunday morning, Hamlin said, “There’s nothing I want more than to be running out that tunnel with my brothers. God using me in a different way today! Tell someone you love them today!” He also shared a picture of himself in his hospital bed with the caption “GAMETIME!!!” and after the opening touchdown, tweeted “OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The NFL Players Association named Hamlin its Week 18 Community MVP following the millions of dollars that have been donated to his foundation’s GoFundMe page this week.
Hamlin was transported to Buffalo from the UC Medical Center on Monday. At the time of the transfer, doctors said that Hamlin had “met a number of key milestones.”
Required reading
- Nyheim Hines’ ‘bone-chilling’ kickoff return sets stage in ‘surreal’ afternoon for Bills
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- For Damar Hamlin, NFL activated Emergency Action Plan. How does it work?
- Explaining the typical medical response to Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest and why every second counts
For more updates on Hamlin, follow The Athletic‘s live blog or see all of our Hamlin coverage here.
(Photo: Lon Horwedel / USA Today)