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Damar Hamlin is ‘getting better’ and ‘taking one small step at a time,’ reveals Bills coach Sean McDermott, who says security is ‘in the building almost daily’ after being released from the hospital after from cardiac arrest earlier this month.
Damar Hamlin has been at the Bills’ training facility nearly every day and is “taking one small step at a time” as he tries to recover from going into cardiac arrest against the Bengals, coach Sean McDermott has revealed.
Hamlin collapsed on the field at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati 16 days ago after facing Bengals WR Tee Higgins.
Hamlin received CPR in the field and was then taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was placed in the intensive care unit in critical condition.
After a series of tests and several days, Hamlin had his breathing tube removed and was awake and responding to doctors.
Bills LB Matt Milano shared a photo of teammate Damar Hamlin with the team on Saturday
Hamlin, who met with his teammates on Saturday and toasted their wild card playoff win against the Dolphins from home, is now back in the building taking “baby steps” on his way to a full recovery.
“Damar is in the building now, almost every day, and that’s good news,” McDermott told reporters before practice Wednesday.
‘As you continue to improve that helps [the rest of the team]. That experience, we will take with us. There is a challenge for [dealing with] that, but also a lot of good things that came out of that and we have to focus on the positives right now.’
When asked specifically what Hamlin has been able to do since he returned to the building, McDermott added: ‘It’s limited overall, but he comes in and he’s just trying to get back into the grind. Taking one baby step at a time.
“He’s just dipping his toe in here and heading towards being himself again.”
A series of neurological tests and hospital exams found no change in his brain function, and Hamlin was soon able to talk to his friends and family.
Hamlin watched from the hospital as his Bills teammates played their final game of the regular season against the New England Patriots, defeating them and starting the game with a kickoff return for a touchdown.
A day later, on January 9, Hamlin was allowed to leave the hospital in Cincinnati and was taken back to Buffalo, where he was taken to Buffalo General Hospital for further tests.
Last Wednesday, Hamlin received more good news as he was released from BGH and will continue his rehabilitation with the team.
McDermott wants his group to “focus on the positives” right now with Hamlin making progress, but when asked to reflect on the lasting impact Hamlin’s cardiac arrest had on him, the Bills coach’s faith leapt to the core. the arena.
“I think that as a world, the most important thing that I learned as a human being is that people put aside their agendas for the greater good to achieve a goal,” he added.
“I am 48 years old and shared this story with my children the Sunday after the New England game, the first opportunity I had to slow down. When you can go through life, 48 years, without any of that happening, you realize that God is real and the power of prayer.
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