News

Damar Hamlin’s Dad Personally Updated Buffalo Bills On Son’s Condition

Published Jan 5, 2023 By Jennifer Pernicano

CBS New York / YouTube

There is now some hope in a story the entire country has been following.

During the Cincinnati Bengals game versus the Buffalo Bills on Monday night (Jan 2), Bills safety Damar Hamlin made a tackle and just moments later, collapsed. He received immediate medical attention by paramedics who administered CPR for several minutes. It’s been reported he was down “for at least 15 minutes.” He was then taken off the field in an ambulance and taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Members of both NFL teams surrounded Hamlin to give him privacy as medical teams were working on him. Bills players were visibly emotional, with many shedding tears and waiting to walk off the field until the ambulance drove away. The game was suspended and postponed.

Damar’s friend and marketing rep Jordon Rooney gave an update on Damar’s condition around 7:30pm local time that night.

“His vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat. They are currently running tests.”

Late Monday night, the Buffalo Bills revealed that Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field. 

“Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in our game versus the Bengals. His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment. He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.”

In the early hours of Wednesday morning (Jan. 4), ESPN’s Coley Harvey revealed he had spoken with Rooney, who provided an “promising” update on Hamlin.

“Per Jordon and Damar’s family, doctors overnight got promising readings that they had been hoping to see by this morning. Jordon couldn’t go into specifics, but progress appears to be made,” he wrote. “Damar is still sedated and in critical condition in the ICU.”

Harvey went on to say that Rooney clarified a statement that was provided by Hamlin’s uncle Tuesday night (Jan 3) that the NFL player had to be resuscitated twice. Hamlin was only resuscitated once at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. Harvey also reported that he has spoken with the Hamlin family, who encourages people to stop criticizing Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who was the one who tackled Hamlin right before he collapsed.

Harvey also found out that Jeff Ruby’s Downtown Steakhouse catered meals for the Hamlin family.

Harvey reiterated, “Although a small, hopeful step appears to have been made, Jordon did mention that Damar still has a long way to go in his recovery. But the family’s optimism remains high and steady as it’s been throughout all of this.”

The Buffalo Bills released a statement, corroborating Rooney’s statements to Harvey.

In a new update on Thursday morning (Jan. 5), the Buffalo Bills tweeted that “Damar has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours. While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress.”

Just several minutes later, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted that Hamlin “opened his eyes last night and is responsive.”

Hamlin’s teammate Kaiir Elam also provided an update, saying, “Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement. Thank you God. Keep the prayers coming please. All love 3!”

CNN reports that Hamlin’s agent told them the NFL star is awake and “has been holding hands with family in the hospital.”

On Wednesday (Jan. 5), Adam Schefter reported that Mario Hamlin, Damar’s father, had a Zoom call with the entire Bills team to update them on Damar’s progress.

“In the words of one source, ‘the team needed it,'” he wrote.

The Bills resumed training on Thursday and will host a press conference later in the day.

What incredible news! We will keep Hamlin in our prayers during his recovery.